FROM   THE  LIBRARY   OF 
REV.    LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON,   D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED   BY   HIM   TO 

THE   LIBRARY  OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


DWsloo     gcB 


THE 
EICHELBER8ERB00KC0. 

BALTIMORE. 


Cfje  €arlj>  CngltsI) 


A    SUMMARY    OF    THE    LECTURE 

BY 

Eije  ftigijt  $on-  anU  ftigft  ft*b.  SJrtijur  tfoies, 
ILortv  Bishop  of  HonUon 

WITH 

ADDITIONAL  NOTES  AND  ILLUSTRATIONS  DELIVERED  AT 
THE  RICHMOND  AUDITORIUM,  VIRGINIA,  OCTOBER  4,  1907 


;H 


TRANSCRIBED   BY 

SADLER    PHILLIPS 

AUTHOR  OF  "FULHAM  PALACE  " 


WITH    A    PREFACE    BY 

THE  BISHOP  OF  LONDON 


THE  YOUNG  CHURCHMAN  CO., 

MILWAUKEE,  WIS. 

1908 


PREFACE 

THE  following  book  brings  back  to  my  mind  one 
of  the  most  interesting  hours  of  my  life,  when 
to  some  5,000  people  at  Richmond  in  Virginia  I  tried 
to  explain  the  interesting  tie  which  exists  between 
the  American  Episcopal  Church  and  the  old  See  of 
London. 

A  wish  has  been  expressed  in  America  that  some 
permanent  record  of  the  lecture  may  be  preserved, 
and  this  little  book  is  the  response. 

I  could  not  have  satisfied  that  wish  without  the 
aid  of  the  Rev.  Sadler  Phillips,  who  has  given 
invaluable  help  in  the  matter. 

I  hope  that  my  brethren  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada  will  be  interested  in  the  book. 

A.  F.  LONDON. 

March,  1908. 


111 


EDITORIAL   NOTE 

THE  sketch  of  the  "Historical  Lecture' '  which 
was  delivered  at  Richmond  (and  the  documents 
quoted,  with  others  from  the  Fulham  MSS.) 
in  answer  to  the  request  of  the  Bishops  of  the  Church 
of  America  at  the  General  Convention,  Richmond, 
Virginia,  October  17,  1907,  are  printed  at  the  desire 
and  by  permission  of,  the  Bishop  of  London.  The 
papers  were  prepared  for  the  Bishop  before  he  went  to 
America,  and  were  examined  by  his  lordship,  in  order 
to  found  his  addresses  on  facts  and  statements  in  these 
original  documents.  The  aim  of  the  transcriber  is  to  illus- 
trate the  intimate  connexion  of  the  work  of  the  Bishops 
of  London  in  the  past  with  the  founding  of  the  English 
colonies.  As  all  the  colonial  enterprise  of  England 
seems  to  have  followed  the  same  thoughtful  and  com- 
prehensive lines,  it  is  hoped  that  the  papers  may  have 
an  extended  usefulness,  making  Great  Britain  more  than 
ever  a  colonizing  nation,  whose  object  is  to  extend  the 
kingdom  of  Christ  and  benefit  humanity.  The  Bishop 
wishes  it  to  be  clearly  understood  that  he  did  not  quote 
all  the  documents  printed,  and  his  lordship  examined 
many  others  neither  quoted  nor  reproduced. 


vi  EDITORIAL  NOTE 

The  greater  part  of  the  following  manuscripts  were 
copied  in  order  to  facilitate  the  Bishop  of  London's 
labour  in  preparing  his  work  for  his  visit  to  America, 
and  the  MSS.  notes  were  taken  there.  They  also  are 
only  part  of  a  greater  number  examined  by  the  Bishop 
before  the  journey  commenced. 

When  the  Bishops  of  America  asked  by  the  letter  from 
the  Convention  for  the  Bishop  of  London's  speech, 
which  was  delivered  from  the  notes  and  documents 
quoted  herein,  the  Bishop  requested  the  author  to  put 
the  whole  into  shape  as  far  as  possible  in  order  to  illus- 
trate the  standpoint,  rather  than  attempt  to  reproduce 
the  words  which  were  used  on  that  occasion.  To  do  this, 
in  the  first  place,  there  is  the  outline  of  the  Bishop  of 
London's  Lecture,  and  the  documents  quoted  are  copied 
to  illustrate  it.  Some  of  these — as,  for  instance,  the 
Bishop's  Commission  from  King  George — have  been 
already  reproduced  in  the  Press  in  America,  but  where 
they  were  thought  worthy  of  more  permanent  shape 
they  are  included.  In  other  cases  similar  documents 
which  might  throw  fresh  light  on  the  love  of  the  Mother 
Country,  and  the  efforts  of  the  Church  of  England  for  the 
colonies,  and  for  the  English  overseas,  have  been 
included,  so  as  to  answer  more  fully  the  request  of  the 
Bishops  of  America,  in  spirit  rather  than  in  the  letter. 

It  is  hoped  by  this  means  the  intentions  of  the  Bishops 
of  America  have  been  met,  in  a  rather  fuller  manner  than 
could  be  the  case  if  the  actual  Lecture  had  been  repro- 
duced, and   that   Churchmen  who   come   to   the   Pan- 


EDITORIAL  NOTE  vii 

Anglican  Congress  will  also  find  illustrations  from 
original  documents  concerning  the  early  English 
colonies,  which  may  be  interesting  and  useful. 

Documents  quoted  by  the  Bishop  of  London. 

(In  his  Possession  at  Fulham  Palace.) 

i.  A  Letter  from  John  Banister. 

2.  A  Treaty  of  Peace,  17 13. 

3.  A  Draft  Petition  for  Bishops,  171 5. 

4.  Bray's  Plan. 

5.  Letter  of  Alexander  Forbes,  1724. 

6.  Petition  of  Indian  Chief,  1727.* 

7.  Patent  of  George  II. 

*  This  is  reprinted  in  "  Fulham  Palace,"  p.  79,  by  the 
author  (Wells  Gardner,  Darton  and  Co.,  Ltd.,  1907),  by 
kind  permission  of  the  publishers. 


THE  REQUEST  OF  THE  AMERICAN 
BISHOPS. 

11  THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION." 

House  of  Bishops. 
To  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London. 

THE  undersigned  were  appointed  by  the  Bishops 
in  Council  to  request  of  your  Lordship  the  manu- 
script of  your  most  interesting  historical  lecture 
delivered  at  Richmond  on  the  evening  of  October  4, 
with  the  appended  notes,  in  order  that  the  same  may 
be  preserved  in  our  archives,  and  that  we  may  have  the 
privilege  of  publishing  any  of  the  facts  and  documents 
therein. 

"  This  collection  so  carefully  made  from  the  Muniment 
Room  at  Fulham,  we  and  our  brethren  consider  is  too 
valuable  not  to  be  placed  within  reach  of  Churchmen 
on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  that  they  may  learn  the 
principles  which  inspired  our  National  Church,  and  of 
.  the  fostering  care  extended  to  the  infant  foundation 
by  successive  Bishops  of  London. 

"  Richmond.  Va., 

"October  17,  1907." 


IX 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.    SUMMARY    OF   THE    HISTORICAL   LECTURE  -            I 

II.    THE    KING'S    GOVERNOUR    IN    THE    COLONIES  -         23 

III.  THE  BISHOP  OF  LONDON  AND  HIS  ECCLESIASTICAL 

JURISDICTION    IN    AMERICA          -                 -  -         57 

IV.  THE    MISSIONARY                    -                 -                 -  84 
V.    LETTERS    PATENT   TO    THE    BISHOP    OF   LONDON  -       II3 

VI.    WEST    INDIA    ISLANDS          -  128 

VII.    CAROLINA,   GEORGIA,    AND    MARYLAND       -  -       165 

VIII.    PAPERS    QUOTED    AT    RICHMOND    -  193 


XI 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

FROM  DOCUMENTS  IN  FULHAM  PALACE 

TO   FACE   PAGE 

1.  HENRY   VIII.    (NOT    THE    FOUNDER    OF    THE    CHURCH 

OF  ENGLAND)            -               -               -               -  1 6 

2.  QUEEN  ELIZABETH,  WHO   NAMED  VIRGINIA     -               -  72 

3.  EDWARD  VI.                         -               -               -               -  96 

4.  KING  JAMES         -               -               -               -               -               -  I20 

5.  KING  CHARLES   I.                                                              -               -  144 

6.  KING  GEORGE  II.               -               -               -               -               -  1 82 

7.  OLIVER  CROMWELL   (FROM   AN   OIL.  PAINTING)                -  204 

8.  CRAYON  SKETCH  OF  A  CHURCH   FOR  VIRGINIA,  1722  -  2l8 


Xll 


THE 

EARLY  ENGLISH   COLONIES 

CHAPTER  I 
SUMMARY  OF  THE  HISTORICAL  LECTURE 

THE  points  upon  which  the  Bishop  enlarged  were  : 
That  in  order  to  understand  the  history  of  the 
colony  of  Virginia  they  must  study  the  history 
of  the  Church  of  England,  whose  influence  in  all  things 
good  was  constantly  exerted,   and  without  whose  aid 
the  settlement  could  not  have  been  promoted. 

This  idea  was  subdivided  into  the  following  principles 
by  the  Bishop  of  London,  viz.  : 

My  first  principle  is,  that  in  all  works  which  are  to 
endure  the  best  thing  is  to  base  them  in  one  object,  and 
that  object  I  shall  term  "  Laws." 

When  the  Reformation  was  made  in  England  it  was 
made  upon  laws. 

When  Englishmen  came  and  planted  themselves  in 
Virginia  they  founded  the  colony  upon  laws. 

Needless  to  observe,  the  first  and  greatest  are  God's 
laws.     Englishmen  learned  this  from  experience  ;  they 

i 


2  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

embodied  it  in  the  Church  Catechism.  Law  is  the  founda- 
tion of  duty  ;  and  all  duty  is  founded  upon — 

My  duty  towards  God  and  my  duty  towards  my 
neighbour. 

So  we  find  as  soon  as  a  Governour  was  appointed  to 
take  charge  of  a  colony,  to  be  military  and  civil  ruler 
under  the  King  of  England,  he  was  charged  in  his 
instructions  to  see  that — 

11  God  Almighty  is  duly  and  daily  served  according 
to  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  as  by  law 
established/ ' 

for  this  would  bring  blessing  and  prosperity  upon  them. 
Therefore, 

Our  first  principle  is  : 

That  the  settlement  of  Virginia  was  at  the  beginning, 
is  now,  and,  if  you  are  not  faithless,  always  will 
be,  on  a  religious  basis  ;  and  that  that  basis  was 
and  is  the  religion  of  the  old  Church  of  England, 
from  which  it  sprang. 

Early  Pioneers, — With  the  first  chartered  company  of 
emigrant-settlers  went  the  first  missionary,  the  Rev. 
Robert  Hunt,  who  was  a  priest  of  the  English  Church, 
and  who,  as  their  first  chaplain,  accompanied  the  expedi- 
tion to  Cape  Henry  on  April  20,  1607,  arriving  in  James 
River  May  13,  1607.  There  wrere  earlier  ministers  and 
earlier  emigrants,  but  Robert  Hunt  was  the  first 
of  the  regular  succession,  and  it  is  300  years  this 
present  year  since  he  first  celebrated  the  Holy  Com- 
munion on  the  northern  shore  of  James  River.  This 
action  may  be  called  the  planting  of  the  American 
Church.  Its  object  was  religious  :  the  service  of  God 
and   conversion  of  the  savages   around.     Hunt's  sue- 


SUMMARY  OF  THE  HISTORICAL  LECTURE     3 

cessor,  the  Rev.   Alexander  Whitaker,   was  called  by 
the  saintly  Nicholas  Ferrar  "  the  apostle  of  Virginia.' ' 

It  will  not  be  forgotten  that  after  the  death  of  Sir 
Humphrey  Gilbert,  his  half-brother,  the  celebrated  Sir 
Walter  Ralegh  obtained  a  patent,  and  sent  forth  "  two 
well-appointed  vessels,' '  which  sailed  to  the  coast  of 
Carolina.  It  was  largely  owing  to  Sir  Walter's  efforts 
that  Queen  Elizabeth  bestowed  the  title  of  "  Virginia  " 
upon  the  colony  in  her  own  memory.  It  is  therefore 
fitly  called  Old  Virginia. 

"  When  we  speak  of  Jamestown  and  Bruton  Parish 
Church  we  are  forgetting  a  bit  of  our  past  history,  which 
I  must  bring  in  here  to  show  why  Virginia  is  called  Vir- 
ginia at  all."  It  was  called  Virginia  by  Queen  Elizabeth, 
the  virgin  Queen  ;  and  all  the  early  efforts  at  coloniza- 
tion substantiate  my  assertion  that  all  these  efforts  to 
make  this  country  were  made  and  carried  out  in  the 
spirit  of  prayer  and  the  spirit  of  religion.  In  1585  there 
was  the  first  expedition  which  really  landed  on  these 
shores,  the  chaplain  being  one  Master  Wolf  all.  He  is 
described  as  "  a  learned  man,  with  a  good  and  large 
living,  having  a  good,  honest  woman  to  wife,  and  very 
towardly  children." 

Wolfall  was  appointed  by  Queen  Elizabeth's  Council, 
and  is  described  as  having  "  a  good  reputation  amongst 
the  best."  He  refused  not  to  take  in  hand  this  painful 
voyage  (and  I  can  quite  sympathize  with  him),  for  the 
only  care  that  he  had  was  to  save  souls  and  reform  the 
natives,  who  were  unbelievers,  if  it  were  possible,  to 
Christianity. 

Thus  Virginia  was  so  called  after  the  virgin  Queen 
Elizabeth,  and  therefore  your  name  carries  you  back  far 
beyond  that  settlement  which  we  shall  commemorate 
to-morrow.      In    that    case   the   name   of    Jamestown 

1 — 2 


4  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

connects  it  with  King  James.  It  was  to  Jamestown 
Robert  Hunt  came  in  1607. 

It  might  be  asked  how  the  Bishop  of  London  came  to 
be  interested  in  the  matter  ?  On  examining  the  docu- 
ments this  was  not  at  first  an  easy  question  to  answer.  So 
many  original  documents,  in  a  land  which  has  possessed 
a  Church  for  thirteen  hundred  years,  get  mislaid,  some- 
times for  centuries.  There  is  one  helpful  fact  in  old 
English  documents — viz.,  that  they  generally  follow 
precedent  as  nearly  as  possible. 

Although  there  were  other  Commissions  granted, 
probably  a  century  before,  the  Bishop  of  London's  con- 
nexion with  America  must  be  based  at  present  on  the 
documents  we  have  actually  found. 

There  is  at  Fulham  a  copy  Commission  to  the  Lords 
of  Trade  endorsed  "  which  passed  the  Great  Seal  June  27, 
1737."  This  is  a  Commission  taking  the  place  of  one 
which  has  not  yet  been  found,  and  it  says  "  the  first 
Commission  of  the  sort  which  issued  bore  date  15  May, 
8  WiUiam  III." 

This  document  throws  light  on  the  subject,  for  it 
states  that  by  letters  patent  under  the  Great  Seal  "  The 
Right  Reverend  Father  in  God,  Edmond,  Lord  Bishop 
of  London,  or  the  Bishop  of  London  for  the  time  being," 
was  appointed  one  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  for  Trades 
and  Plantations,  "  for  promoting  the  trade  of  this  our 
kingdom  of  Great  Britain,  and  for  inspecting  and  im- 
proving our  plantations  in  America  and  elsewhere,  as 
in  and  by  the  said  recited  letters  patent  (relation  being 
thereunto  had)  may  more  fully  and  at  large  appear." 

It  is  stated  that  Bishop  Abbot  of  London  (1610)  was 
a  member  of  the  Virginia  Company  ;  his  successors  were 
certainly  frequently  asked  for  subscriptions.  At  any 
rate,  the  Bishop  of  London  was  required  by  the  King 


SUMMARY  OF  THE  HISTORICAL  LECTURE     5 

to  work  for  improving  the  plantations,  and  he  gladly 
did  so. 

It  is  in  obedience  to  the  law,  to  the  same  spirit  which 
worked  then,  as  now,  that  brings  us  together  to-day.  The 
Bishop  had  spiritual  jurisdiction  in  the  colonies,  and  he 
was  expected  to  help  to  improve  them,  that  "  fidelity 
might  be  secured  by  the  stricter  ties  of  religion/ ' 

The  next  document  is  the  actual  letters  patent 
making  the  Bishop  of  London  the  visitor  of  America  ; 
that  is  my  title  to  stand  before  you.  It  is  too  precious  to 
give,  even  to  America.     (See  p.  113.) 

The  second  great  principle  the  Bishop  put  forward 
might  be  summed  up  in  the  following  words,  viz.  : 

It  was  the  old  Church  of  England  from  which  the 
Church  of  America  sprang. 

The  fact  is  the  Church  established  the  State  in  Eng- 
land, rather  than  the  State  established  the  Church.  The 
Bishops  of  London  had  lived  at  Fulham  for  a  thousand 
years  before  the  settlement  at  Jamestown. 

Some  people  seemed  to  think  that  the  Church  of 
England  was  founded  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  VIII. 
This  was  contrary  to  the  facts  of  history,  as  the  Bishops 
of  London  had  held  Fulham  Manor  nearly  1,300  years, 
except  during  the  twenty  years  of  this  commonwealth. 

The  idea  that  the  Church  of  England  was  founded  in 
King  Henry  VIII/s  time  had  been  given  up  by  the  great 
historians.     For  instance,  Bishop  Creighton  says  : 

"  The  Church  of  England  did  not,  like  other  bodies, 
cast  aside  the  ancient  system  of  the  Church.  It  was 
not  tempted  into  the  paths  of  revolution,  but  followed 
the  safer  course  of  reformation.  It  did  not  break  the 
continuity  of  the  historic  Church,  but  with  sound 
learning  and  spiritual  insight  proceeded  gradually  to 


6  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

disentangle  what  was  primitive  and  Catholic  from  later 
accretions,  which  might  be  useful  or  otherwise  in  them- 
selves, but  were  to  be  judged  in  the  first  instance  with 
reference,  not  to  their  temporary  usefulness,  but  to  the 
standard  of  Scripture  as  interpreted  by  primitive 
practice/ ' 

Again  : 

"  Some  people  talk  sometimes  as  if  it  "  (the  Church  of 
England)  "  came  into  being  as  a  branch  of  the  Roman 
Church,  or  as  if  at  some  period  of  its  history  it  was 
merged  in  the  Roman  Church.  It  had  varying  relations 
with  the  Roman  Church,  which  were  regulated,  not  by 
the  claims  of  Rome,  but  by  the  advantage  to  be  gained 
by  England.  I  cannot  put  what  seems  to  me  the  his- 
torical truth  more  clearly  than  in  this  form  :  the  Church 
of  England,  wThile  retaining  its  own  continuity  in  all 
essentials,  admitted  the  papal  jurisdiction  on  grounds  of 
utility,  and  then  passed  through  a  long  period  in  which 
it  discovered  that  that  jurisdiction  was  dangerous  to 
Church  and  nation  alike.' ' 

The  late  Dr.  Bright  says  : 

11  The  Church  of  England  had  possessed  from  the  first 
all  that  was  necessary  to  the  perfection  and  independence 
of  a  Church.  In  the  founding  of  the  Church  of  England 
Rome  had  borne  no  undivided  part,  and  the  English  had 
willingly  acknowledged  from  the  first  the  titular  head- 
ship or  primacy  of  the  greatest  city  of  the  world,  and 
had  accepted,  like  the  rest  of  the  West,  the  Roman 
observances  upon  several  disputed  points  ;  yet  when- 
ever she  attempted  to  assert  an  authority  that  was  more 
than  harmless  or  nominal,  England  resisted  by  tacit 
action  or  open  remonstrance.  When  afterwards  in  the 
great  day  of  papal  domination  the  pretensions  grew 
dangerous,  they  were  checked  by  law,  so  that  for  two 


SUMMARY  OF  THE  HISTORICAL  LECTURE     7 

centuries  before  the  Reformation  an  anti-papal  statute 
was  unnecessary.  Henry  VIII.  had  broken  the  slackened 
bonds,  and  though  his  motives  were  vile  and  his  revolu- 
tion marked  by  crime,  yet  the  work  done  was  great,  and, 
on  the  whole,  necessary.' ' 

The  late  Dr.  R.  W.  Dixon  says  : 

11  It  did  not  take  the  title  of  the  Reformed  Church,  as 
the  Calvinistic  churches  of  the  Continent  did,  nor  of  the 
Protestant  Church,  like  the  Lutheran  churches,  in  any 
authorized  formulary,  so  that  there  was  nothing  to 
indicate  a  break  in  the  continuity  of  its  existence.  It 
remained  what  it  always  had  been — a  national  Catholic 
Church,  the  temporal  head  of  it  an  avowed  Catholic 
potentate.  The  Church  of  Elizabeth  and  Parker  was 
the  Church  of  St.  Augustine  and  Ethelbert,  of  iElfric 
and  Alfred,  of  William  and  Lanfranc,  of  Henry  and 
Cranmer.  We  have  hitherto  met  nothing  in  the  annals 
of  the  Reformation  to  show  that  it  ever  occurred  to  any- 
body who  had  any,  share  in  shaping  the  destinies  of  the 
Church  that  he  was  creating  a  new  Church." 

The  manor  and  lands  of  Fulham  are  described  as 
belonging  to  the  Bishop  of  London  in  Doomsday 
Book.  There  is  a  certified  copy  in  the  Fulham  manu- 
scripts. 

The  Bishops  of  London  were  at  Fulham  before  the 
Reformation  ;  they  were  there  during  the  long  period  of 
about  a  century  and  a  third  which  the  Reformation 
occupied,  and  they  are  there  to-day. 

So  the  Church  of  England  and  the  Bishops  of  London 
remained  the  same  from  the  foundation  of  the  see  until 
to-day — exactly  as  a  man  is  the  same  before  and  after 
washing  his  face.  To  pretend  anything  else  is  enough  to 
make  the  frogs  in  the  ancient  moat  round  Fulham  Palace 
laugh.     You  can  trace  the  list  of  Bishops  in  my  little 


8  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

book    called    "  Fulham    Palace/ '   published    by  Wells 
Gardner,  Darton  and  Co. 
And  the  third  point  was, 

It  was  this  old  Church  of  old  England  which  planted 
the  Churches  in  America. 

The  Divine  society  was  true  to  its  trust,  and  souls 
which,  if  they  had  only  to  depend  on  a  written  New 
Testament,  would  have  nothing  to  sustain  them,  had 
their  minds  instructed  in  the  Christian  doctrine  and  their 
souls  strengthened  with  the  Christian  Sacraments  by  the 
Church. 

We  come  back,  then,  to  the  old  formula,  under 
which,  if  rightly  understood,  Church  and  Chapel  might 
be  reconciled.  It  is  unhistorical  to  ignore  a  society 
which  eighteen  centuries  ago  was  founded  by  Christ 
Himself;  unhistorical  to  ignore  the  Church  of  England, 
founded  thirteen  centuries  ago  by  St.  Augustine  and 
other  noble  missionaries.  But  it  is  illogical  to  set  up 
the  Bible  as  a  make-weight  to  the  Church,  when  it  is  the 
Church  which  has  brought  us  the  Bible,  and  appears 
upon  the  scene  in  our  generation,  after  its  long  course 
down  the  centuries,  with  the  Bible  in  its  hand. 

The  motto  of  the  English  Church  has  been — at  any 
rate,  since  the  Reformation — "  loyal  to  both  sides  of 
the  Truth." 

It  dare  not  disown  its  unbroken  history  of  so  many 
centuries,  or  its  commission  from  its  Founder,  as  fresh 
to-day  as  it  was  eighteen  centuries  ago  ;  but,  on  the 
other  hand,  it  never  hides  away  its  Bible.  It  says  : 
"  Search  the  Scriptures,  and  see  if  these  things  are  so"; 
and  it  is  because,  in  the  midst  of  a  divided  Christendom, 
it  stands  firm  and  unmoved  on  the  rock  of  history,  with 
the  Bible  in  its  hand,  that  the  one  hope  of  a  united 


SUMMARY  OF  THE  HISTORICAL  LECTURE     o 

Christendom  seems  to  be  this — that  it  may  one  day  be 
reunited  under  the  banner  of  the  English  Church. 

The  Church  of  England  is  like  a  weather  -  beaten 
ship  :  what  a  battle  she  has  had  with  wind  and  weather  ! 
She  survived  the  dark  days  of  the  Middle  Ages  ;  she  has 
cleaned  off  at  the  Reformation  the  incrustations  which 
threatened  altogether  to  impede  her  ;  and  after  passing 
through  the  chilly  cynicism  of  the  last  century,  has, 
under  the  guidance  of  God,  whose  hand  has  held  the 
rudder  all  the  time  ("  Tuo  semper  munere  gubernetur  ": 
Collect  for  sixteenth  Sunday  after  Trinity),  responded 
to  the  marvellous  increase  of  spiritual  power  which  has 
filled  her  sails  during  the  last  fifty  years. 

So  this  old  Church  of  old  England  which  planted 
the  Church  in  America  is  identical  with  the  Church 
before  and  after  the  Reformation  in  her  Creeds. 

We  cannot  recommission  the  Church  ;  and  if  in  re- 
forming the  Church  we  had  lost,  or  injured,  the  treasure 
in  Creed  and  Sacrament  and  grace  she  is  bearing,  then, 
"  for  the  sake  of  life,"  we  have  lost  the  reasons  for 
living.  The  current  idea  seems  to  be  that  creeds  were 
invented  by  a  proud  and  dogmatic  body  called  The 
Church,  as  a  binding  and  cramping  chain  on  the  con- 
sciences and  intellects  of  men.     But  this  is  not  so. 

It  is  supposed  that  St.  Paul  alludes  to  some  recog- 
nized formula  of  belief  when  he  exhorts  St.  Timothy  to 
"  hold  fast  the  form  of  sound  words  "  (2  Tim.  i.  13,  14). 
When  a  man  had  heard  enough  of  the  Christian  faith  to 
wish  to  know  more,  his  first  question  was,  "  What  are 
the  truths  you  Christians  hold  ?" 

It  is  the  simplest  thing  to  have  a  short  symbol,  to  be 
learned  by  heart,  to  become  the  battle-cry  of  the  young 
Christian. 

The  Creeds  made  no  change  ;  they  only  made  more 


io  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

explicit  the  old  Christian  belief.  They  stated  what  had 
been  always  and  everywhere  believed — viz.,  that  there 
was  one  universal  or  Catholic  Church,  of  which  the 
Apostles  were  the  first  members  ;  one  baptism  for  the 
remission  of  sins,  and  the  resurrection  of  the  dead  unto 
the  life  of  the  world  to  come. 

Creeds  have  been  the  battle-cry  of  our  regiment  for 
ij500  years.  They  join  the  Church  of  England  in  the 
unbroken  succession  of  doctrine,  just  as  the  laying  on  of 
hands  with  prayer  makes  the  succession  of  persons. 

The  Church  of  England,  and  the  Bishops  of  London 
might  have  been,  in  true  succession  and  uninterrupted 
line  from  the  Apostles  ;  but  there  could  have  been  no 
true  Church  if  this  true  succession  of  doctrine  had  not 
been  maintained. 

The  old  Church  of  England  went  one  step  further, 
and  added  to  the  heritage  she  passed  on  to  the  sister 
Church  of  America — the  priceless  heritage  of  Christian 
Sacraments. 

Concerning  Sacraments  Bishop  Isaac  Barrow  said : 

"It  is  the  peculiar  excellency  of  our  religion  that  it 
doth  not  much  employ  men's  care,  pains,  and  time  about 
matters  of  ceremonial  observance,  but  doth  chiefly 
(and  in  a  manner  wholly)  exercise  them  in  works  of 
substantial  duty.  .  .  . 

"  '  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ/  saith  St.  Augustine,  '  hath 
subjected  us  to  His  gentle  yoke  and  light  burden, 
whence  with  Sacraments  most  few  in  number,  most  easy 
of  observance,  most  excellent  in  signification,  He  bound 
together  the  society  of  new  people/ 

"  But  those  which — chiefly,  at  least,  and  in  way  of 
eminency — have  obtained  this  name  are  those  two  insti- 
tuted by  our  Lord — Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper. 

"  ■  The   water   of   Life   is   Baptism,    the   wine   that 


SUMMARY  OF  THE  HISTORICAL  LECTURE     n 

delighteth  the  spiritual  thirst  in  the  Lord's  Supper.' 
Other  things  in  the  world  report  unto  us  what  a  good 
land  the  Lord  hath  promised  to  His  Israel  ;  but  these 
two  Sacraments  are  Caleb  and  Joshua,  spies  that  have 
seen  and  searched  the  land,  and  bring  us  sensible  and 
sure  tidings  that  it  is  a  noble  land,  flowing  with  milk 
and  honey. 

"  To  put  all  my  work  of  consolation  into  one  prospect 
together,  prayer,  the  best  comfortable  grace,  is  married 
to  hope  ;  the  Holy  Ghost  gives  it  in  marriage  ;  faith  is 
the  priest  that  joins  them  together  ;  and  the  two  Sacra- 
ments are  the  outward  signs  by  which  they  have  declared 
their  consent,  as  it  were,  by  giving  and  receiving  of  a 
ring  and  by  joining  of  hands,  a  Sacrament  being  '  a 
visible  sign  of  inward  grace,  as  a  means  whereby  we 
receive  the  same,  and  a  pledge  to  assure  us  thereof/  or 
1  a  token  to  confirm  men's  faith  in  the  promises  of  God/ 
Doubt  not,  then,  but  as  faith  is  our  hand  to  receive 
Christ,  so  the  Sacraments  are,  as  it  were,  God's  hands  to 
give  Him  unto  us." 

Or,  as  Hooker  says  : 

"  The  use  of  Sacraments  is  but  only  in  this  life,  yet 
so  that  here  they  concern  a  far  better  life  than  this,  and 
are  for  that  cause  accompanied  with  '  grace  which 
worketh  salvation.' 

"  Sacraments  are  the  powerful  instruments  of  God  to 
eternal  life  ;  for  as  our  natural  life  consisteth  in  the 
union  of  the  body  with  the  soul,  so  our  life  supernatural 
in  the  union  of  the  soul  with  God.  And  forasmuch  as 
there  is  no  union  of  God  with  man,  without  that  mean 
between  both  which  is  both,  it  seemeth  requisite  that 
we  first  consider  how  God  is  in  Christ,  then  how  Christ 
is  in  us,  and  how  the  Sacraments  do  serve  to  make  us 
partakers  of  Christ. 


12  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

"  Their  chief  est  force  and  virtue  consisteth  not  herein 
so  much  as  in  that  they  are  heavenly  ceremonies,  which 
God  hath  sanctified  and  ordained  to  be  administered  in 
His  Church,  first  as  marks  whereby  to  know  when  God 
doth  impart  the  vital  or  saving  grace  of  Christ  unto  ail 
that  are  capable  thereof ;  and,  secondly,  as  means 
conditional  which  God  requireth  in  them  unto  whom  He 
imparteth  grace." 

And  thus,  whilst  the  Church  of  England  neither  adds 
to  the  Sacraments  nor  takes  away  from  them,  she  also 
retains  that  regard  and  reverence  for  Holy  Orders  which 
"  it  is  manifest  unto  all  men  M  the  Church  always  held. 

It  was  not  the  fault  of  my  predecessors,  the  Bishops 
of  London  that  the  first  Bishop  of  America,  was  not 
consecrated  Bishop  at  St.  Paul's,  as  he  was  ordained 
at  Fulham.  It  was  a  combination  of  circumstances, 
political  and  religious,  which  tied  the  Bishop's  hands. 

The  manuscripts  herein  from  Fulham  will  show  how 
long  and  earnestly  the  Bishops  of  London  strove  to 
send  ordained  men,  and  the  best  men  they  could  get  ; 
how  patiently,  and  unsuccessfully,  they  strove  to  send 
the  episcopate  as  well  as  the  priesthood  here. 

It  is  the  usual  custom  of  Church  life  :  as  the  laity  are 
made  members  of  the  royal  priesthood  and  the  holy 
nation  of  Christ's  body  mystical  by  the  laying  on  of 
hands  and  prayer,  thus  joining  them  in  the  Apostolical 
succession.  So  it  is,  and  it  was  with  the  clergy ;  they, 
too,  must  be  ordained  to  the  apostolical  ministry  by 
laying  on  of  hands,  whether  they  were  to  be  Bishops, 
Priests,  or  Deacons. 

Having  the  clergy,  we  must  find  the  prayers.  Now, 
the  Church  of  England  contends  that  forms  are  neces- 
sary, and  that,  instead  of  being  a  hindrance,  they  are  a 
help  to  united  prayer.     Forms  of  prayer  are  not  neces- 


SUMMARY  OF  THE  HISTORICAL  LECTURE     13 

sarily  formal  ;  they  may  become  so,  but  in  the  experi- 
ence of  generations  of  Englishmen  it  is  quite  exceptional 
when  they  become  formal. 

The  Divine  Service,  as  it  used  to  be  called,  or  a  set 
form  of  prayers  and  psalms,  confessions  and  absolu- 
tions, seems  to  have  a  power  and  a  unity  of  purpose 
when  used  by  large  gatherings  of  people  unknown  at 
any  other  time.  These  common  prayers,  which,  except 
in  the  case  of  the  Royal  Family,  who  are  named,  are 
always  general,  and  for  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  men, 
seem  to  meet  the  Apostolical  exhortation  that  supplica- 
tions, prayers,  intercessions,  and  giving  of  thanks  be 
made  for  all  men,  and  this  seems  to  be  merely  an  expan- 
sion of  "  the  prayers  "  mentioned  in  Acts  ii.  42.  A 
reference  to  the  frequent  use  of  the  word  "all"  in  the 
Church  Militant  prayer  and  the  Litany  will  clearly 
establish  this. 

Accepting  all  these  things,  /  am  a  Church  of  England 
man. 

If  I  am  asked,  therefore,  why  I  am  not  a  Dissenter, 
my  answer  is  because  I  do  not  dissent  from  these 
Apostolical  Church  Orders  ;  I  do  not  dissent  from  the 
Sacraments  ordained  by  Christ  Himself  ;  I  do  not  dis- 
sent from  the  creeds  of  Christendom,  and  I  know  nothing 
which  could  replace  them  ;  and  I  do  not  dissent  from 
the  Common  Prayer  of  the  Church  according  to  the  use 
of  the  Church  of  England  or  the  use  of  the  Church  of 
America,  because  it  is  Common  Prayer — prayer  for 
everybody,  in  common. 

I  question  whether  any  system  made  by  men  could 
ever  produce  the  same  results.  It  delivers  us  Church 
folk  from  being  at  the  mercy  of  any  man's  powers  of 
extempore  composition,  great  as  they  may  be  !  And 
how  far  more  democratic  it  is  that  the  people  should 


i4  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

have  their  share  in  the  prayers  !  It  is  a  large  share, 
too,  that  is  allowed  the  people  in  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer  ;  the  responsive  nature  of  the  service,  the  blending 
prayer  and  praise,  the  constantly  varied  posture  of  the 
worshipper,  all  make  me  satisfied,  whilst  judging  no 
man,  to  be  a  Church  of  England  man. 

Again,  Why,  then,  am  I  not  a  Dissenter  ? 

The  answer  to  me  is  very  simple  :  because  I  do  not 
dissent.  In  the  past  there  were  Churchmen  in  England 
and  in  America,  there  may  be  some  to-day,  who  have 
the  opinion  that  they  could  manage  the  Church  better 
than  it  has  ever  managed  itself.  I  do  not  assume  that 
attitude,  for,  in  the  first  place,  I  do  not  dissent  from 
Church  government — i.e.,  the  ancient  way  the  Church 
was  controlled  and  expanded  by  the  work  of  men  called, 
tried,  and  ordained  to  the  offices  of  Bishops,  Priests, 
and  Deacons. 

Looking  into  the  history  of  the  past,  I  find  this  is  the 
way  the  Church  was  supplied  with  officers  since  the 
Apostles'  time.  Deacons  are  mentioned  as  being  made 
in  the  book  of  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  ;  priests  or 
presbyters  are  ordained  by  the  Apostles,  who  laid  their 
hands  upon  them,  and  prayed  over  them.  Bishops 
come  before  us  for  the  first  time  in  Holy  Scripture 
when  St.  Timothy  and  St.  Titus  are  consecrated  and 
given  a  special  commission  by  St.  Paul,  which  can  be 
none  other  than  the  Episcopal  Commission,  although  the 
actual  name  is  not  used. 

The  exercise  of  the  episcopal  office  helps  us  to  under- 
stand it,  for  if  they  were  not  to  be  Bishops,  why  were 
they  to  receive  accusations  against  presbyters  ?  or  why 
were  they  to  lay  hands  upon  them  if  they  were  not  given 
an  authority  over  them  ?  Why  should  the  address  on 
their  duties  be  so  totally  different  to  St.  Paul's  pastoral 


SUMMARY  OF  THE  HISTORICAL  LECTURE     15 

address  to  the  priests  at  Ephesus  ?  It  seems  to  me  to 
be  clear  that  St.  Paul  was  giving  an  Episcopal  Commis- 
sion to  these  young  men,  and  not  appointing  them  to 
merely  pastoral  duties. 

We  may  also  illustrate  the  position  from  the  ministry 
of  the  Old  Covenant.  In  the  Jewish  Church  the  ministry 
was  threefold.  It  is  to  us.  therefore,  no  surprise  to 
hear  St.  Ignatius  in  the  first  century  after  Christ  men- 
tioning the  Bishops  about  twenty  times  in  his  letters, 
saying,  "  Reverence  the  deacons,  as  of  Jesus  Christ, 
the  Bishop  as  the  father,  and  the  presbyters  as  the 
Sanhedrim  of  God  ;  without  this  there  is  no  Church." 

Take  Gibbon,  who  was  at  least  thoroughly  impartial 
on  Church  matters.  He  says  that  the  episcopal  form 
of  government  appears  to  have  been  introduced  before 
the  close  of  the  first  century,  and  adds  :  "No  Church 
without  a  Bishop  has  been  a  fact,  as  well  as  a  maxim, 
since  the  time  of  Tertullian  and  Irenaeus." 

Whilst  our  own  Hooker — the  judicious  Hooker,  as  he  is 
called — says  :  "  We  require  you  to  find  out  but  one 
Church  upon  the  face  of  the  whole  earth  that  has  been 
ordered  by  your  discipline,  and  has  not  been  ordered  by 
ours — that  is,  by  episcopal  regimen  and  government — 
since  the  time  the  blessed  Apostles  were  here  on  earth.'' 

I  do  not  dissent  from  Church  government,  the  con- 
solidation and  massiveness  of  which,  in  all  probability, 
under  God,  carried  the  Church  through  all  the  changes 
and  chances  at  the  break  up  of  the  Roman  Empire, 
and  has  enabled  the  society  which  it  governed  to  guard 
and  keep  its  treasure,  amid  the  winds  and  waves  of 
changing  history — still  less  do  I  dissent  from  Church 
ordinances. 

Thus  we  baptize  our  children  because  Jesus  said, 
"Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  Me  ...  for  of 


1 6  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

such  is  the  kingdom  of  God  ";  and  because  God  com- 
manded the  children  to  be  admitted  into  the  Old  Cove- 
nant by  circumcision,  it  seems  naturally  to  follow  that 
by  Baptism  children  should  be  admitted  into  the  New 
Covenant  of  the  Christian  Church.  The  Apostles  bap- 
tized whole  households,  and  the  promise  is  "  to  you  and 
to  your  children. "  Justin  Martyr  tells  us  that  he  "  has 
known  those  who  were  made  disciples  in  infancy"; 
and  St.  Augustine  mentions  infant  Baptism  "  as  ever  in 
use,  and  a  thing  delivered  by  the  authority  of  the 
Apostles  ;"  whilst  Tertullian  proves  the  prevalence  of 
infant  Baptism  by  strongly  objecting  to  it — we  do  not 
mind  that ;  but  it  adds  to  the  value  of  his  evidence. 

I  believe  in  Confirmation  because  St.  Peter,  St.  John, 
and  St.  Paul  confirmed  (Acts  viii.  and  xix.)  ;  because  +he 
laying  on  of  hands  is  called  "  one  of  the  elements  of  the 
faith  ";  and  St.  Cyprian  refers  to  "  the  bath  of  Baptism" 
and  the  laying  on  of  hands. 

We  restrict  the  celebration  of  the  Holy  Communion  to 
our  priests,  because  "  no  man  taketh  this  honour  to 
himself  "  except  he  be  duly  called,  as  was  Aaron,  in  the 
Old  Covenant,  to  the  special  duties  which  fell  upon  him  ; 
so  in  the  New  Covenant  those  duly  ordained  in  the  Chris- 
tian Church  do  the  special  duties  which  fall  upon  them. 

Ignatius  says  :  "  Let  no  Eucharist  be  valid  except  that 
celebrated  by  the  Bishop  or  one  appointed  by  the 
Bishop."  Thus  all  authority  for  the  priests  to  officiate 
in  the  Diocese  of  London,  or  Virginia,  is  derived  from  the 
Bishop. 

The  late  Mr.  Gladstone,  in  his  "  Testimony  to  the 
Catholic  Faith,"  says  : 

"  We  have  still  amongst  us  the  ordained  hereditary 
witnesses  of  the  truth,  conveying  it  to  us,  in  an  unbroken 
series,  from  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  His  Apostles. 


HENRY  VIII.  :  "  NOT  THE  FOUNDER  OF  THE  CHURCH  OF  ENGLAND.  » 
From  a  Deed  at  Fulham  Palace. 


SUMMARY  OF  THE  HISTORICAL  LECTURE     17 

This  is  to  us  the  ordinary  voice  of  authority — of  authority 
equally  reasonable  and  equally  true,  whether  we  will 
hear  or  whether  we  will  forbear  :  of  authority  which 
does  not  supersede  either  the  exercise  of  private  judg- 
ment, or  the  sense  of  the  Church  at  large,  or  the  supre- 
macy of  the  Scriptures,  but  assists  the  first,  locally 
applies  the  second,  and  publicly  witnesses  to  the  last." 

So  again  in  1840  : 

11  The  Bishop  conveys  the  power  of  administering 
Sacraments,  whereby  the  Church  is  constantly  re- 
plenished with  children  ;  or  ordaining  priests,  by 
whom  Sacraments  are  administered  ;  and  of  consecrat- 
ing Bishops,  by  whom  in  turn  these  powers  may  be 
communicated  anew  to  others,  who  may  replace  the 
actual  holders,  and  hand  them  on  from  one  generation 
to  another.  In  this  line,  therefore,  alone  it  is  that 
the  effectual  principle  of  continued  propagation  is 
carried  down  from  the  Apostles  of  Christ  to  the  latest 
age." 

Therefore  I  do  not  dissent  from  the  ordinances  of  the 
Church. 

Again,  I  do  not  dissent  from  the  forms  of  prayer  in 
use  in  the  Church.  First,  because  they  are  beautiful  ; 
secondly,  because  they  are  ancient,  and  we  like  to  use 
prayers  which  are  sanctified  by  the  use  of  saints  who 
have  gone  before.  Further,  because  we  object  to  being 
at  the  mercy  of  our  ministers'  power  of  composition  ; 
and  also  because  we  feel  we  cannot  do  better  than  follow 
the  example  of  heaven,  where  "  they  cease  not  day  or 
night,  saying,  Holy,  holy,  holy,  Lord  God  Almighty/ ' 
The  Jews  under  the  Old  Covenant  had  forms  of  prayer. 
Christ  taught  His  disciples  a  form  of  words,  and  He 
prayed  to  His  Father  time  after  time  in  the  same 
words. 


1 8  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

I  do  not  dissent  from  the  Creeds  of  the  Church, 
first,  because  they  are  Scriptural.  Every  sentence  of 
the  Creeds,  if  we  had  time  to  go  through  them  sentence 
by  sentence,  could  be  proved  by  sure  and  certain 
warrant  of  Holy  Scripture.  It  is  the  motto  of  the 
Church  of  England  :  "  The  Church  to  teach  and  the 
Bible  to  prove.' ' 

Secondly,  the  Creeds  are  the  inventories  of  the  faith. 
When  we  let  a  house  we  have  an  inventory  taken  of  the 
furniture  and  fixtures  ;  a  creed  is  the  inventory  or  short 
summary  of  the  Christian  faith.  The  Creeds  were 
forced  upon  the  Church  by  two  things  :  first,  by  the 
necessity  of  helping  the  Catechumens  who  came  to  be 
taught  what  the  Christian  faith  was.  You  could  not 
put  a  Bible  into  their  hands,  in  the  first  place,  because 
for  the  first  two  centuries  there  was  practically  not  one 
to  put  into  their  hands ;  and  if  there  had  been  one,  it 
would  have  been  impossible  for  an  uneducated  person 
to  have  gathered,  simply  by  reading  the  Bible,  what  the 
Christian  faith  was  ;  it  is  all  contained  in  the  Bible,  if 
you  know  where  to  look  for  it,  but  you  have  to  gather 
it  out  of  the  Bible. 

If  you  were  to  put  a  Bible  into  the  hands  of  a  child 
without  any  explanation,  it  would  receive  a  most  com- 
plicated and  confused  idea  of  what  the  Christian  faith 
is.  The  Creeds  were,  in  the  first  place,  forced  upon  the 
Church  by  the  need  for  short  summaries  of  Christian 
doctrine.  For  the  first  two  hundred  years  the  Bible 
practically  was  not  collected  into  one  book  at  all.  It  was 
written — there  was  a  Gospel  here,  and  a  letter  of  St.  Paul 
there,  and  so  on,  but  to  all  intents  and  purposes  it  was 
not  collected  into  a  book  until  the  end  of  the  second 
century,  and  even  then  it  was  not  until  the  invention  of 
printing  that  it  could  be  widely  circulated  throughout 


SUMMARY  OF  THE  HISTORICAL  LECTURE     19 

the  world.  The  other  necessity  for  them  was  from  the 
point  of  view  of  heresy.  When  a  man  said,  "  The  Chris- 
tian Church  teaches  this,"  the  Christian  Church  said, 
11  No,  it  does  not  ;  this  is  what  we  believe,"  and  put  it 
in  the  Creed.  Those  who  have  read  the  history  of  the 
Xicene  Creed  will  know  how  it  was  formed  at  Nicaea 
chiefly  because  of  the  heresy  of  Arius. 

I  do  not,  then,  dissent  from  the  Creeds — first,  because 
they  are  Scriptural  ;  secondly,  because  they  are  neces- 
sary inventories  of  the  Christian  faith  for  teaching  pur- 
poses ;  and,  thirdly,  because  they  are  wreck-charts  to 
show  you  must  keep  in  the  right  track,  or  else  you  will 
fall  into  errors  of  faith. 

Why  am  I  not  a  Roman  Catholir  ? 

Because  I  am  an  English  Catholic,  a  member  of  that 
ancient  Reformed  Church  of  England  which  follows 
primitive  faith  and  primitive  practice,  and  which  bears 
the  old  name  St.  Gregory  gave  it  over  1,300  years 
ago. 

"Catholic,"  as  everybody  knows,  means  universal; 
but  it  means  universal  in  two  ways.  It  means  universal 
because  our  Lord's  commission  was  "to  go  into  all 
the  world  ";  but  also  universal  in  the  sense  that  it  has 
to  teach  all  the  truth  ;  and  therefore,  when  we  talk  about 
the  Catholic  Church,  we  mean  Catholic  in  both  these 
senses. 

There  can  be  only  one  Church,  and  therefore,  when  we 
talk  about  the  Catholic  Church,  we  naturally  object  to 
the  Roman  Catholics  usurping — as  in  the  past  they  have 
most  foolishly  been  allowed  to  usurp — the  exclusive 
use  of  the  word  "  Catholic."  The  real  answer  to  the 
question,  Why  am  I  not  a  Roman  Catholic  ?  is, 
Because  I  am  an  English  Catholic. 

I  belong  to  the  English  branch  of  the  one  universal 

2 — 2 


20  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

Church  which  teaches  all  the  truth  ;  and  the  Catholic 
Church  came  down  in  this  way  in  England.  As  the 
Catholic  Church  spread  its  mission  round  the  world, 
each  branch  in  each  city  was  called  the  Church  in,  or 
of,  that  city — the  Church  of  Jerusalem,  the  Church  of 
Antioch,  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Rome,  or  the  Church 
of  Rome,  and  later  the  Church  of  Christ  in  England,  or 
the  Church  of  England. 

Why  do  we  not  belong  to  the  Church  of  Christ  in 
Rome  ? 

Because  we  belong  to  the  Church  of  Christ  in  England. 
Domineered  over  for  centuries  by  the  usurped  jurisdic- 
tion of  Rome,  at  last,  at  the  Reformation,  the  Church 
of  England  washed  off  the  accretions  to  primitive  doc- 
trine and  practice  it  had  received  from  its  sister  Church, 
and  remained  the  same  Church,  but  freed  from  un- 
catholic  practices  and  doctrines. 

Even  when  it  was  under  the  influence  of  Rome,  England 
was  constantly  protesting.     Here  are  some  instances  : 

In  the  reign  of  Edward  I.  the  Statute  of  Mortmain 
restrained  the  transfer  of  land  to  the  Church  by  will  ; 
in  the  reign  of  Edward  I.  the  Statute  of  Provisors  re- 
strained the  giving  away  of  English  benefices  by  the 
Pope  ;  in  the  reign  of  Richard  II.  the  Statute  of  Prae- 
munire restrained  the  action  of  the  papal  authority  in 
regard  to  the  disposal  of  English  benefices  before  the\' 
became  vacant.  Bishop  Grosseteste  of  Lincoln  made 
a  noble  protest  in  1250 ;  and  John  Wycliffe,  in  1350,  was 
really  the  precursor  of  the  Reformation. 

After  the  Reformation  the  great  sentence  of  the  Magna 
Charta  was  fulfilled  at  last — "  The  Church  of  England 
shall  be  free/'  and  free  from  the  oppressions  of  the  Pope, 
and  free  from  accretions  to  the  truth.  We  stand  to-day, 
like  our  island  home,  "  four-square  to  all  the  winds  of 


SUMMARY  OF  THE  HISTORICAL  LECTURE    21 

heaven."     This  is  the  answer  to  the  question,  Why  am 
I  not  a  Roman  Catholic  ? 

It  is  manifest  that  this  old  Church  of  England,  with 
her  Apostolical  ministry,  her  Apostolical  doctrine  and 
Sacraments,  which  lived  before  there  was  a  State  of 
England  or  a  realm  civil  at  all,  cannot  be,  as  is  some- 
times asserted,  merely  a  State-paid  and  State-endowed 
creature.  Very  likely  it  has  been  the  fact  that  at 
certain  times  the  realm  of  England  paid  some  particular 
Church  or  Churchman  for  doing  her  work — some  of  my 
predecessors  were  Lord  Chancellors  of  England — but 
to-day  the  Church  of  England  does  not  receive  one 
penny  from  the  State. 

There  is  no  tax  or  rate  for  the  Church  of  England. 
Its  property  consists  entirely  of  voluntary  gifts,  ancient 
and  modern,  given  to  bishoprics,  deans  and  chapters, 
or  clergy  and  parishes. 

The  late  Mr.  Gladstone  said  that  the  clergy  of  the 
Church  of  England  are  not  State  paid.  If  disendow- 
ment  were  to  come  to  pass  it  is  the  laity  who  would  get 
no  compensation  for  the  loss  that  they  would  suffer  by 
the  disendowment  of  their  different  parishes. 

All  endowments  are  local.  The  corporation  may  be 
a  cathedral  or  a  parish,  but  in  either  case  it  is  the 
same — a  personal  gift  in  trust  for  the  sole  use  of  one 
particular  place.  There  are  no  endowments  of-^the 
Church  of  England. 

Take  away  the  endowments  of  the  Church,  and  what 
happens  ?  The  whole  of  its  organization,  now  partially 
supported  by  endowments,  upon  the  £7,000,000  a  year 
which  the  Church  of  England  is  now  raising  by  voluntary 
contributions  would  fall  to  pieces.  This  means  you 
withdraw  the  money  from  the  voluntary  charities  of  the 
country,  which  the  Church  is  now  sustaining  for  the 


22  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

benefit  of  necessitous  people,  entirely  independent  of  all 
considerations  of  their  religious  and  political  differences 
of  opinion. 

In  conclusion,  it  remains  for  the  Church  of  America 
to  carry  on  our  old  traditions,  and  that  the  Church 
of  Virginia  may  flourish  and  be  first  in  excellence,  as  in 
the  United  States  of  America. 


CHAPTER  II 
THE  KING'S  GOVERNOUR  IN  THE  COLONIES 

Virginia,  or  "  Wingandacoa." 

ALTHOUGH  Virginia  was  a  prospective  colonial 
centre  as  early  as  the  end  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  and  was  responsible  to  a  large  extent 
for  the  ruin  of  Sir  Walter  Ralegh,  it  is  not  until  the 
seventeenth  century  that  the  Charter  of  King  James  I. 
brings  Virginia  into  intimate  connexion  with  the  Bishop 
of  London. 

The  following  reproduction  from  a  parchment  in  the 
old  records  may  serve  to  give  what  the  contemporary 
artist  considered  to  be  a  likeness  of  King  James. 

During  the  reign  of  this  monarch  the  Rev.  Robert 
Hunt  celebrated  Holy  Eucharist  on  May  14,  1607,  on 
the  northern  shore  of  James  River,  and  thus  laid  the 
foundation  of  the  American  Church. 

The  next  colony  founded  after  that  of  Virginia  was 
the  great  Hudson  Bay  adventure,  which  was  the  specu- 
lation of  the  rich  Puritan  Churchmen  in  the  Church  of 
England.  It  was  founded  by  Prince  Rupert,  who  is 
more  generally  known  as  a  dashing  soldier  than  a  mer- 
chant adventurer  ;  and  colonial  expansions  made  imme- 
diate demands  upon  the  Bishop  of  London. 

The  subject  is  so  vast  and  the  old  documents  so 
numerous  that  we  shall  only  pretend  to  present  a  view, 

23 


24  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

not  a  complete  picture,  of  the  work  which  was  done  to 
bind  Englishmen  abroad  to  their  brethren  at  home,  and 
to  make  and  mould  their  characters.  Englishmen  were 
proud  to  confess  they  had  been  moulded  by  the  "  use 
of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  as  by  law  established  " 
in  the  Church  of  England.  The  importance  of  the  part 
the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  played  in  making  the 
character,  which  was  and  is  the  strength  of  the  colonist, 
is  not  yet  estimated. 

By  the  English  theory  the  Crown  contains  both  spiritual 
and  temporal  jurisdiction  over  all  its  subjects  and  in  all 
its  possessions.  The  temporal  authority  is  wielded  by 
Parliament  and  the  King  ;  the  spiritual  authority  is 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Bishops,  who  are  the  King's 
spiritual  officers.  But  in  the  distant  colony  the  King 
was  represented  by  the  Governour,  who  made  a  miniature 
court  of  his  own,  subject  to  the  British  Parliament. 

We  will  examine  the  work  of  the  Governour,  as  it  is 
illustrated  by  the  Fulham  manuscripts  remaining  to-day. 
The  spiritual  side  of  the  work  we  shall  consider  under 
the  Bishop's  ecclesiastical  authority,  in  the  next  chapter. 

Since  this  paper  was  written  "The  Canadian  Archives," 
published  at  Ottawa,  have  arrived.  It  is  instructive  to 
compare  the  instructions  there  given  to  the  Governour 
with  this  older  document. 

The  first  American  settlements  of  colonists  were 
managed  by  chartered  companies.  The  merchant  ad- 
venturer found  the  funds,  and  he  expected  in  return  the 
proceeds  to  be  sent  to  him  from  the  work  of  the  colonists, 
in  the  shape  of  skins,  etc. ;  but  the  chartered  companies 
disappeared  before  "  the  Governour n  as  the  settle- 
ments grew  in  numbers  and  importance.  The  "  char- 
tered company  M  had  little  influence  on  Fulham.  When 
we  reach  the  rule  of  the  Governours,  who  had  instructions 


THE  KING'S  GOVERN  OUR  IN  THE  COLONIES     25 

to  "  further  the  influence  of  the  Bishop  of  London  by 
all  means  in  their  power,"  we  come  upon  a  great  deal  of 
correspondence  with  these  great  and  powerful  colonial 
rulers.  The  letters  contain  varied  information  ;  some- 
times it  is  concerning  ecclesiastical,  sometimes  civil 
matters,  and  sometimes  news  of  a  warlike  nature.  It 
may  be  found  in  one  letter  that  the  Governour  recom- 
mends some  one  for  ordination,  another  for  the  charge 
of  a  parish.  In  another  we  find  an  account  of  a  terrible 
conflict  with  the  red  men,  and  see  names  long  forgotten, 
but  the  records  of  which,  once  brought  agony  to  relations 
in  England,  as  they  read  of  the  death  of  their  brave  ones 
in  the  distant  colony. 

For  the  Governour  then,  was  something  like  Viceroy 
now,  with  the  difference  that  he  was  in  close  touch 
with  the  Bishop  of  London.  The  Governour  was  not 
always  a  Churchman,  sometimes  not  even  a  man  born 
in  England.  That  made  no  difference  :  Bishop  and 
Governour  acted  together  for  the  good  of  the  Church 
and  realm.  It  is  shrewdly  suspected  by  the  mis- 
sionaries, that  sometimes  the  Governour  took  advantage 
of  his  "  true  yoke  fellowr  "  far  away  over  the  seas  ;  and 
sometimes  the  Bishop  was  made  useful  in  advancing  the 
Governour's  relations  when  they  came  to  the  Motherland. 
To  the  Governour  wras  deputed  a  share  of  the  spiritual 
functions,  on  account  of  the  distance  from  the  episcopal 
oversight.  He  instituted  to  benefices,  it  is  to  be  feared 
in  rather  a  lax  manner  ;  he  granted  marriage  licenses, 
again  sometimes  in  an  irregular  manner,  and  held  a  court 
for  the  probate  of  wills.  To  the  missionary  and  his 
work  the  attitude  of  the  Governour  was  of  vast  im- 
portance, as  it  was  also  to  the  welfare  of  the  colony. 

The  careful  and  statesmanlike  way,  in  which  the  destiny 
of  the  colony  was  planned,  can  be  seen  from  the  instruc- 


26  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

lions  to  Governour  Nicholson  (a  copy  is  amongst  the 
Palace  records  signed  by  Queen  Anne,  and  sealed).  They 
are  addressed  to  "Francis  Nicholson,  esq.,  our  Lieutenant 
and  Governour-General  of  our  colony  and  Dominion  of 
Virginia  in  America,  and  in  his  absence  to  the  Lieutenant- 
Governour  or  Commander-in-chief  of  our  said  colony  for 
the  time  being.  Given  at  our  court  at  St.  James's  the 
12th  day  of  December,  1702." 

The  first  paragraph  relates  that  the  Commission  under 
the  Great  Seal  accompanies  the  instructions. 

The  next  orders  the  Council  of  the  colony  by  name,  as 
follows  : 

"  William  Bird,  Edmund  Jennings,  Charles  Scar- 
brough,  John  Lightfoot,  Matthew  Page,  Benjamin 
Harrison  senior,  Robert  Carter,  John  Curtis,  Doctor 
Blaire,  Philip  Ludwell,  William  Bassett,  Henry  Duke, 
and  Robert  Quary  esqs." 

The  document  explains,  that  the  Commission  was  to 
be  read  solemnly  at  their  first  meeting  as  a  Council,  the 
term  used  being  "  with  all  due  and  usual  solemnity." 

Afterwards  the  Governour  was  to  administer  the  oath 
of  allegiance  and  supremacy  ;  "  then  the  oath  for  the 
further  security  of  his  majesty's  person  and  the  suc- 
cession of  the  crown  in  the  Protestant  line  and  for  ex- 
tinguishing the  hopes  of  the  pretended  prince  of  Wales 
and  all  other  pretenders/' 

Also  "  the  test  mentioned  in  an  act  of  Parliament 
made  in  the  25th  year  of  King  Charles  the  second  for 
preventing  dangers  which  may  happen  from  Popish 
Recusants  :  together  with  the  oath  for  the  due  execu- 
tion of  your  and  their  places  and  trusts." 

Then  the  instructions,  so  far  as  their  advice  might  be 
needed,  were  to  be  communicated  to  the  Council : 


THE  KING'S  GOVERN  OUR  IN  THE  COLONIES      27 

The  Council  was  to  have  the  power  of  freedom  of 
debate. 

The  Governour  was  never  to  act  with  less  than  five  as 
a  quorum. 

The  Queen  was  to  be  informed  of  vacancies  in  the 
Council. 

The  Council  was  to  be  kept  up  to  twelve  members,  and 
in  selecting  additional  members  "  men  of  good  life,  well 
affected  to  our  government,  of  good  estates  and  abilities, 
and  not  necessitous  people,  or  much  in  debt,  to  be  chosen." 

The  Council  was  not  to  be  augmented  or  diminished. 

Absence  from  the  colony  for  twelve  months  without 
the  Governour's  permission  caused  a  vacancy  in  the 
Council,  to  be  filled  by  the  Queen  herself. 

Laws  were  to  be  passed  in  the  name  of  the  Governour. 
Council,  and  assembly. 

One  law  was  to  be  passed  for  each  thing. 

Authentic  copies  of  these  laws  to  be  sent  home  within 
three  months,  upon  pain  of  the  forfeiture  of  a  year's 
salary :  but  in  time  of  war  the  copies  were  to  be  sent  as 
soon  as  possible. 

All  laws  in  force  were  to  be  revised. 

Taxes  levied  by  poll  and  tithables  were  considered 
oppressive,  so  a  new  scheme  was  to  be  found. 

Liquor  duties  were  to  be  applied  to  the  use  of  the 
government  of  the  colony. 

A  general  levy  or  tax  was  to  be  appointed,  and  its  use 
accounted  for  to  England. 

The  taxes  so  levied  were  to  be  for  State  purposes,  at 
the  royal  will  and  pleasure. 

If  the  Governour  were  absent  from  the  colony  his 
deputy  was  to  be  paid  in  his  stead. 

The  Governour  was  not  to  leave  the  colony  without 
permission. 


23  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

Fair  books  of  accounts  were  to  be  kept. 

Public  money  to  be  paid  away  on  the  Governour's 
warrant. 

Liquor  laws  were  to  last  one  year  at  least. 

No  law  was  to  be  re-enacted. 

No  Act  was  to  be  made  to  alter  the  value  of  money,  or 
to  lessen  the  revenue. 

Members  of  the  assembly  to  be  "  freeholders,  as  being 
more  agreeable  to  the  custom  of  England,  to  which  you  are 
as  near  as  may  be  to  conform  yourself." 

11  You  shall  reduce  the  salary  of  the  members  of  the 
assembly,  to  such  a  moderate  proportion  as  may  be  no 
grievance  to  the  country,  wherein  you  are  neverthe- 
less to  use  your  discretion,  so  as  no  inconveniency  may 
arise  thereby.1 ' 

The  power  of  appointing  courts  was  to  be  in  the 
Governour's  discretion. 

The  Governour  was  to  fix  the  time  when  the  courts 
should  be  held.     He  was — 

Not  to  remit  fines  of  above  ten  pounds  without  con- 
sulting the  High  Treasurer  of  England. 

To  transmit  to  England  copies  of  all  Acts  passed,  and 
also  of  journals. 

Not  to  displace  judges,  etc.,  without  cause  signified  to 
the  Crown. 

To  prevent  their  arbitrary  removal. 

Offices  held  by  deputies  were  to  be  watched  by  the 
Governour. 

In  case  any  goods,  moneys,  etc.,  of  pirates  were  found 
in  the  colony,  they  were  to  be  seized  and  accounted 
for  to  the  Crown. 

The  trying  of  pirates  was  left  to  the  Governour,  but 
accessories  were  to  be  sent  to  England,  according  to 
the  Act  28  Henry  VIII. 


THE  KINGS  GOVERNOUR  IN  THE  COLONIES      29 

No  new  courts  were  to  be  erected. 

The  powers  of  existing  courts  were  to  be  reported. 

If  councillors  claimed  exemption  from  the  service  of 
writs  under  the  Act  of  Virginia,  March  27,  1678,  the 
Governour's  letter  was  to  have  the  same  power  as  a  writ. 

The  Governour  was  to  regulate  all  salaries. 

To  call  a  court  of  exchequer. 

That  no  man's  life  or  property  were  to  be  taken,  except 
by  law. 

He  was  to  administer  the  oaths  appointed. 

"  You  are  to  permit  a  liberty  of  conscience  to  all 
persons  (except  Papists),  so  they  be  contented  with  a 
quiet  and  peacable  enjoyment  of  the  same,  not  giving 
offence  or  scandal  to  the  government.' ' 

He  was  to  send  "  to  the  Commissioners  for  Trade 
and  Plantations  the  present  number  of  planters,  men, 
women,  and  children,  servants  free  and  unfree,  and 
slaves  :  and  a  yearly  account  of  the  increase  of  them 
and  how  many  were  fit  to  bear  arms  in  the  Militia." 

He  was  to  cause  an  exact  account  to  be  kept  of  all  per- 
sons "  born,  christened,  and  buryed,"  and  yearly  to  send 
account  to  the  Trades  and  Plantations  Commissioners. 

Planters  and  Christian  servants  wrere  to  be  provided 
with  arms,  listed  under  good  officers,  mustered,  trained, 
and  in  readiness  for  defence.  Too  frequent  and  remote 
marches  and  musters,  and  trainings  were  not  to  be 
allowed  to  interfere  with  the  affairs  of  the  inhabitants. 

Officers  and  commanders  were  to  be  appointed  where 
the  country  bordered  upon  the  Indians,  to  raise  men  and 
arms  to  oppose  invasion. 

Xo  articles  of  war  or  martial  law  to  be  put  in  execu- 
tion without  the  royal  consent. 

But  martial  law  was  to  be  used  if  any  mutiny  or 
desertion  occurred. 


30  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

Pressing  seamen  in  the  plantations  was  only  to  be 
used  after  application  to  the  Governour ;  but  he  was  to 
see  the  ships  were  not  lacking  in  men. 

Any  naval  captain  neglecting  his  duty,  the  Governour 
might  arrest  on  the  order  of  the  Lord  High  Admiral. 

All  arms,  ammunition,  and  stores  to  be  accounted  for, 
and  an  inventory  of  them  to  be  taken. 

Storehouse  to  be  provided  for  arms,  etc. ;  and  all 
landing-places  to  be  surveyed. 

All  servants  who  went  to  the  colony  were  to  serve  their 
time,  and  then  receive  50  acres  of  land. 

Quit  rents  not  to  be  allowed. 

Surveyors  were  to  be  appointed  and  sworn. 

A  general  survey  and  map  to  be  made. 

An  account  to  be  made  of  all  arrears  of  quit  rents. 

Land  not  to  be  taken  by  such  as  would  not  make  use 
of  it  ;  but  planters  to  have  100  acres,  and  the  same 
quantity  for  each  labourer  he  took  to  the  plantation. 

Imports  and  exports  to  be  reported. 

Tobacco  to  pay  Virginia  duties. 

In  time  of  war  all  ships  to  go  in  fleets  and  under 
convoy. 

"  To  examine  the  rates  and  duties  charged  and  pay- 
able upon  any  goods  imported  or  exported,  wrhether 
native  or  otherwise,  and  to  use  your  best  endeavours  for 
the  improvement  of  the  trade  in  those  parts. 
11  Illegal  trade  to  be  discouraged. 
"  To  give  an  account  from  time  to  time  of  the  strength 
of  your  neighbours,  whether  they  be  Indians  or  others, 
by  sea  and  land,  and  the  condition  of  their  plantations, 
and  what  correspondence  you  do  keep  with  them. 

"  To  take  especial  care  that  God  Almighty  be  devoutly 
and  duly  served  throughout  your  government,  the 
Book  of  Common  prayer  as  by  Law  established,  read  each 


THE  KING'S  GOVERNOUR  IN  THE  COLONIES     31 

Sunday  and  holy  day,  and  the  blessed  sacrament  ad- 
ministered according  to  the  rites  of  the  church  of 
England.  You  shall  be  careful  that  the  churches 
already  built  be  well  and  orderly  kept,  and  that  more 
be  built  as  the  colony  shall  by  the  blessing  of  God  be 
improved  :  and  that  besides  a  competent  maintenance, 
to  be  assigned  to  the  minister  of  each  orthodox  church, 
a  convenient  house  to  be  built  at  the  common  charge  for 
each  minister,  and  100  acres  of  land  assigned  him  for 
a  glebe  and  exercise  of  his  industry.  And  you  are  to 
make  particular  inquiry  whether  the  several  acts  for 
the  support  of  the  ministry  within  our  said  colony  be 
put  in  execution,  and  to  give  order  that  they  be  duly 
observed,  and  that  the  parishes  be  so  limited  and 
settled  as  you  shall  find  most  convenient  for  the  accom- 
plishing this  good  work. 

u  You  are  not  to  prefer  any  minister  to  any  ecclesi- 
astical benefice  in  our  colony,  without  a  certificate  from 
the  right  reverend  father  in  God,  the  Lord  Bishop  of 
London,  of  his  being  conformable  to  the  doctrine  and 
discipline  of  the  church  of  England,  and  of  a  good  life 
and  conversation  :  and  if  any  person  already  preferred 
to  a  benefice  shall  appear  to  you  to  give  scandal  either 
by  his  doctrine  or  manners  you  are  to  use  the  best  means 
for  the  removal  of  him,  and  to  supply  the  vacancy  in 
such  manner  as  we  have  directed. 

"  You  are  to  give  order  forthwith  (if  the  same  be  not 
already  done)  that  every  orthodox  minister  within 
your  government  be  one  of  the  vestry,  in  his  respective 
parish,  and  that  no  vestry  be  held  without  him  except 
in  case  of  sickness,  or  that  after  notice  of  a  vestry 
summoned  he  omit  to  come. 

"  You  are  to  enquire  whether  there  be  any  minister 
within  your  government  who  preaches  and  administers 


32  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

the  sacrament  in  any  orthodox  church  or  chapel  without 
being  in  due  orders,  and  give  an  account  thereof  to  the 
said  Lord  Bishop  of  London. 

"  And  to  the  end  that  the  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  of 
the  said  Lord  Bishop  of  London  may  take  place  in  that 
our  colony  so  far  as  conveniently  may  be,  we  do  think 
lit  that  you  do  give  all  countenance  and  encouragement 
to  the  exercises  of  the  same,  excepting  only  the  col- 
lating to  benefices,  granting  licenses  for  marriages,  and 
probate  of  wills  which  we  have  reserved  to  you  our 
Governour,  etc. 

"  We  do  further  direct  that  no  schoolmaster  be 
henceforwards  permitted  to  come  from  England  to  keep 
school  within  our  said  colony  without  the  Licence  of 
the  said  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  and  that  no  other 
persons  now  there  or  that  shall  come  from  other  parts 
be  admitted  to  keep  school  without  your  Licence  first 
obtained. 

"  And  you  are  to  take  especial  care  that  a  table  of 
Marriages  established  by  the  canons  of  the  church  of 
England  be  hung  up  in  every  orthodox  church  and  duly 
observed,  and  you  are  to  endeavour  to  get  a  law  passed 
in  the  assembly  of  that  colony  (if  not  already  done)  for 
the  strict  observation  of  the  said  table." 

Crime  and  swearing  and  drunkenness  were  to  be  bars 
to  promotion. 

The  engrossing  of  commodities  was  to  be  suppressed. 

There  was  to  be  free  trade  with  the  Indians. 

Merchants,  and  especially  the  Royal  African  Company 
of  England,  were  to  be  encouraged. 

"  And  as  we  are  willing  to  recommend  unto  the  said 
company  that  the  said  colony  may  have  a  constant  and 
sufficient  supply  of  merchantable  negroes  at  moderate 
rates  in  money  or  commodities,  so  you  are  to  take 


THE  KING'S  GOVERNOUR  IN  THE  COLONIES     33 

especial  care  that  payment  be  duly  made  and  within  a 
competent  time  according  to  their  agreement." 

Trade  with  Africa  was  only  to  be  carried  on  within  the 
charter. 

A  yearly  account  of  the  number  of  negroes  in  the 
colony  was  to  be  made,  and  the  Trades  and  Plantations 
Commissioners  wrere  to  be  informed  of  the  wants  and 
defects  of  the  colony,  its  chief  products,  and  what 
improvements  "are  made  and  require  to  be  made." 

Letters  of  marque  were  not  to  be  granted  without  the 
royal  command. 

Appeals  wrere  to  be  made  in  case  of  error  in  the  courts  ; 
afterwards  the  appeal  lay  to  the  Privy  Council,  then  to 
the  Queen  in  Council. 

Men  under  a  certain  rent  value  were  not  capable  of 
being  jurors. 

Courts  not  to  be  adjourned  but  upon  good  grounds. 

A  law  to  be  made  to  prevent  inhumane  severities 
towards  servants  or  slaves,  the  wilful  killing  of  Indians, 
or  the  maiming  of  them,  and  to  find  out  the  best  means 
to  facilitate  and  encourage  the  conversion  of  negroes 
and  Indians. 

The  peaceable  agreement  with  the  Indians  of  New 
York  and  Virginia  to  be  maintained. 

Stocks  and  public  workhouses  to  be  built  to  employ 
poor  and  indigent  people. 

Towns  to  be  built  upon  every  river ;  ships  to  load  and 
unload  at  the  towns;  and  Jamestown  to  be  the  metropolis 
of  the  colony. 

The  Act  of  1682  about  attorneys  to  be  repealed. 

Estates  in  Virginia  not  to  be  exempt  from  the  bank- 
ruptcy of  owners  here. 

Other  plantations  in  distress  were  to  be  mutually 
assisted. 


34  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

Prisons  to  be  kept  in  repair. 

House  rent  was  to  be  allowed  to  the  Governour. 

The  Governour's  stipend  was  to  be  £2,000  per  annum. 

Customs  duties  on  tobacco  to  be  collected  carefully. 

Officers  to  be  sworn  to  their  duties. 

Quit  rents  to  be  sold  openly  "  by  inch  of  candle  M  to 
the  highest  bidder. 

Secretary's  office  to  be  inspected. 

In  the  absence  or  death  of  the  Governour  all  except 
urgent  legislation  to  be  held  over. 

All  writs  to  issue  in  the  Queen's  name. 

The  Governour  not  to  declare  war  except  against 
Indians. 

Sufficient  persons  to  become  bond. 

This  is  signed  by  the  Queen  here  also:  "  Anne  R." 

An  insight  into  the  work  of  the  Governour  may  be 
further  obtained  from  the  following  instructions  to  mer- 
chants who  traded  with  the  Redskins,  and  who  were  to 
inform  the  Indians  concerning  Boyle's  charity  : 

"Virginia  (date  in  pencil,  1700). 

"  By   his    excellency    Francis   Nicholson, 
Esq.,  His  Maty's   Lieutenant  Gover- 
nour and  Governour  General  of  his 
colony  and  Dominion  of  Virginia. 
"  Instructions  to  be  observed  by  Mr.  Robert  Hicks 
and  Mr.  John  Evans  concerning  which  they  are  to  treat 
with  such  of  the  great  nations  of  Indians  as  they  shall 
trade  to,  and  particularly  the  Usharees  and  Totterayes. 
"  Imprimis. — You   shall   acquaint   the   said   Indians 
that  you  have  particular  directions  from  me  (the  chief 
governour  of  Virginia  under  the  great  king  of  England, 


HIE  KING'S  GOVERNOUR  IN  THE  COLONIES     35 

etc.,  and  my  most  sacred  master)  to  discourse  and  treat 
with  them  concerning  the  several  particul?rs  following, 

'-  Item. — You  shall  acquaint  them  that  a  great  and 
good  man  who  lately  died  in  England  (the  Hon.  Robert 
Boyle  esq.),  having  a  great  love  for  the  Indians,  hath 
left  money  enough  to  the  college  here  in  Virginia  to  keep 
nine  or  ten  Indian  children  at  it  and  to  teach  them  to  read 
and  write  and  all  other  arts  and  sciences  that  the  best 
Englishmens  sons  do  learn. 

u  Item. — You  shall  acquaint  them  that  if  they  let 
their  children  be  brought  to  the  college  and  educated 
there  the  Englishmen  will  teach  them  to  know  the  great 
Almighty  God  who  is  able  to  do  everything  for  them,  and 
will  give  them  all  good  things  as  he  doth  to  the  English- 
men. 

"  Item. — You  shall  acquaint  them  that  the  next 
summer  the  rooms  will  be  ready  at  the  College  for  their 
reception  and  accommodation  ;  and  that  if  any  one 
great  nation  will  send  three  or  four  of  their  children 
thither  they  shall  have  good  victuals,  cloathes,  books 
and  learning,  and  shall  be  well  looked  after  both  in 
health  and  sickness  ;  and  when  they  are  good  scholars 
shall  be  sent  back  to  teach  the  same  things  to  their  own 
people. 

"  Let  the  children  be  young,  about  seven  or  eight 
years  of  age,  seeing  they  are  to  be  taught  from  the  first 
beginning  of  letters,  and  let  them  have  a  carefull  Indian 
man  of  their  own  country  to  wait  upon  them  and  to 
serve  them  and  to  talk  continual^7  with  them  in  their 
language,  that  they  do  not  forget  it  whilst  they  are 
amongst  the  English. 

"  Item. — You  shall  acquaint  them  that  whilst  their 
children  are  at  the  college  their  fathers  or  other  re- 
lations or  friends  may  come  and  see  them  as  often  as 

3—2 


36  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

they  please  :  they  shall  be  made  welcome  themselves, 
and  will  see  how  well  their  children  are  used. 

"  Item. — You  shall  take  particular  care  to  make  the 
great  men  of  the  Indians  thoroughly  sensible  of  every 
particular  part  of  these  propositions,  and  you  shall  use 
your  best  interest  and  endeavour  to  promote  this  good 
work,  and  that  no  jealousy  or  apprehensions  of  danger 
may  remain  in  the  Indians  you  shall  assure  them  that 
I  am  their  very  good  friend,  and  am  very  willing  to  have 
a  trade  and  commerce  with  them,  and  if  they  shall 
think  fit  some  of  them  may  safely  come  in  and  see  the 
college  and  be  satisfied  of  the  truth  of  the  aforementioned 
particulars. 

"  Item. — You  shall  in  the  name  of  the  College  give 
them  all  imaginable  assurance  that  their  children  shall 
have  very  good  usage  and  all  upon  free  cost. 

"  When  you  shall  have  discussed  the  above-mentioned 
particulars  with  the  Indians,  and  have  received  their 
answer  to  the  same,  you  shall  give  a  true  account  of  all 
your  proceedings  therein  unto  the  hon.  Ben j  amine 
Harrison  esq.,  of  his  Maty's  council  of  state  of  this 
colony  and  Dominion  of  Virginia  :  and  that  you  may  be 
the  better  enabled  to  be  serviceable  herein  you  shall 
keep  an  account  of  what  charges  you  shall  be  at,  which 
shall  be  repaid  to  you,  together  with  a  suitable  reward 
for  your  trouble  and  diligence  in  this  affair. 

"  Ff.  Nicholson." 

The  parchment  concerning  Boyle's  Charity,  signed  by 
the  Bishop  of  London  and  Lord  Burlington,  is  at  Ful- 
ham.  The  transaction  shows  the  desire  of  the  English 
to  be  friendly  with  the  natives,  and  it  is  sad  to  record 
that  it  was  not  always  well  received. 


THE  KING'S  GOVERNOUR  IN  THE  COLONIES    37 

Our  next  paper  shows  that  amongst  our  own  country- 
men bad  manners  were  springing  up,  and  that  away  from 
home  and  Church  they  were  in  danger  of  forgetting  the 
lessons  of  civilization.  The  Governour's  speech  in  Boston 
was  the  result  of  the  action  of  the  Bishop  of  London. 

NEW  ENGLAND,  "THE  BOSTON  WEEKLY  NEWS- 
LETTER," No.  1454. 

From  Thursday,  December  2,  to  Thursday, 
December  9,  1731. 

The  Speech  of  His  Excellency  Jonathan  Belcher  Esq., 
Captain-General  and  Governour-in-Chief  in  and  over 
His  Majesty's  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in 
New  England.  To  the  General  Assembly  of  the  said 
Province  at  Boston  on  Thursday,  December  2,  1731  : 

"  I  hope  therefore  we  shall  all  endeavour  to  make  this 
people  happy  under  the  present  reign  and  establishment. 
And  in  order  to  it  the  first  thing  I  would  recommend  to 
your  serious  consideration  is  the  Reformation  of  Manners, 
by  making  some  other  Lawrs  if  it  be  thought  necessary 
for  the  better  suppressing  prophaneness  and  immorality  : 
And  when  we  consider  that  our  worthy  ancestors  freely 
professed  true  religion  to  be  the  principal  end  of  their 
settlement  of  this  Plantation  I  hope  it  will  provoke  in 
us  a  spirit  of  emulation  and  make  us  endeavour  to  barr 
up  the  flood  gates  of  vice  and  wickedness.' ' 

The  Governour  then  recommends  a  law  for  the  quiet 
and  ease  of  the  Quakers. 

And  "  to  maintain  the  honour  of  the  manufactures  of 
the  colony  :  remedying  want  of  weight  and  measure  and 
preventing  other  frauds. 

After  mentioning  his  salary,  the  Governour  regrets  that 
the  boundary  dispute  with  New  Hampshire  was  unsettled. 


38  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

That  the  French  had  made  incroachments,  on  the 
English  frontier  at  New  York,  and  recommending  the 
improvement  of  the  Militia. 

11  Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
"  You  well  know  that  there  has  been  no  money  in 
the  Treasury  for  more  than  six  months  past,  and  your 
hitherto  refusing  to  make  a  supply  is  a  manifest  injustice 
to  numbers  of  private  persons,  and  more  especially  to  the 
Officers  and  soldiers  of  his  Majesty's  forts  and  Garrisons  ; 
and  this  affair  is  not  to  be  trifled  with,  but  as  you  your- 
selves have  hitherto  said  (under  the  present  circum- 
stances) the  Garrisons  will  be  left  naked,  and  an  end 
put  to  all  safety.  And  since  you  have  no  answer  to 
the  several  Addressements  home  on  this  head,  more 
than  that  your  agent  honestly  tells  you  he  has  no  en- 
couragement of  obtaining  anything  in  your  favour,  but 
that  those  that  are  to  be  judges  are  strongly  against  you  ; 
I  hope  you  will  now  make  the  necessary  supply  of 
money  to  the  Treasury  without  any  more  delay." 

We  must  recollect  that  Boston  was  at  this  time 
a  place  where  "  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  was  not  by 
law  established,"  and  the  planters  found  that,  deprived  of 
its  teaching,  our  duty  to  God  and  our  duty  to  our  neigh- 
bour, men  soon  ran  into  lawless  living.  The  same  result 
followed  in  Carolina,  where  the  lawlessness  and  irregu- 
larity of  life  were  a  menace  to  public  peace.  There  is  no 
such  trouble  mentioned  in  Virginian  records,  because  the 
Church  Catechism  was  there  taught,  and  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer  freely  used.  This  is  shown  by  the 
answers  to  the  Bishop's  questions  to  the  clergy,  of  which 
many  signed  originals  remain  in  the  Palace  records. 

The  importance  of  books  for  the  colony  is  illustrated 


THE  KIXG'S  GOVERXOUR  IX  THE  COLOXIES    39 

by  the  following  manuscripts,  whereby  the  Governour 
bequeaths  part  of  his  library  to  the  College  of  William 
and  Mary  in  Virginia.  This,  again,  was  indirectly  a 
result  of  the  Bishop's  work,  because  he  was  the  patron  of 
Dr.  Bray's  scheme  for  parochial  libraries  in  the  colonies, 
and  although  the  idea  did  not  early  take  root,  library, 
school,  college,  and  church  all  ultimately  emanated  from 
the  quiet  labour  of  the  Bishop  at  Fulham  Palace. 


A  Catalogue  of  my  Books  (taken  May  30TH,  1695) 
which  i  desire  to  leave  after  my  death  to  the 
College  of  William  and  Mary  in  Virginia  (Colonel 
Nicholson). 

Books  in  folio : 

Archbishop  Cranmer's  "  Memorials  "  - 

Wesley's  "  Life  of  Christ  " 

"  London  Ministers'  Cases  to  recover  Dis- 
senters " 

Baron  Atkinson's  "  Speech  to  the  Lord  Mayor  " 

"  Lex  Mercatoria  " 

Dr.  Cave's  "  Lives  of  the  Apostles  and 
Fathers  "  (3  parts  in  2  vols.) 

"  Roberts  :  his  Map  of  Commerce  "     - 

"  Cabala  ;  or,  Letters  of  State  " 

Knox's  "  History  of  ye  Island  of  Ceylon  in 
the  East  Indies  " 

Dr.  Comber's  "  Works  on  the  Common 
Prayer  " 

Hooker's  "  Ecclesiastical  Polity  " 

Sir  Walter  Ralegh's  "  History  of  the  World  "  - 

Towterson's  *  Works,"  in  2  vols. 

Dr.  Hammond's  "  Works,'*  in  4  vols.    - 

"  Mr.  Mede  :  his  Works  " 

Bishop  Stillingfleet's  "  Sermons  " 

"  Monsieur  de  Thevenot  :  his  Travels  into  the 
Levant,  Persia,  and  the  East  Indies  " 

Sleidan's  "  General  History  of  the  Reforma- 
tion "  - 

Camden's  "  History  of  the  Reign  of  Queen 
Elizabeth  "  - 

V  Helvicus  :  his  Chronology  in  English  " 

"  Dawson  :  his  Origin  of  Laws  M 


I 

s. 

d. 

I 

0 

O 

0 

16 

O 

0 

16 

O 

0 

0 

6 

I 

0 

0 

2 

4 

0 

0 

11 

0 

0 

15 

O 

0 

8 

0 

0 

18 

0 

0 

16 

0 

I 

2 

0 

I 

14 

0 

4 

0 

0 

1 

5 

0 

0 

9 

0 

0 

14 

0 

0 

16 

0 

0 

12 

0 

0 

9 

0 

2 

0 

0 

4o  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

Books  in  folio  (continued)  :  ^     s.    d. 

Monsieur  Ouentyn's  "  Com  pleat  Gardener  "  i     o     o 

Evelyn's      Sylva  "         -  -  -  -0120 

"  Systema  Agriculture "  -  -  -090 

Cowley's  "  Works,"  in  2  vols.  -  -  -0170 

Grotius,  "  Of  Peace  and  War  " 
Davi she's  Books  in  1    vol.,   belonging  to  the 

"  Rights  of  Uniformity  in  Churches  " 
"  Lord  Viscount  Preston's  Trial,"  etc.  - 
Dr.    Samuel  Morland's    "  Tuba   Stentoro-pho- 
nica  "  - 

Books  in  4/0.  ; 

"  Thirty  Sermons  by  Divines  of  the  Church  of 

England  "-  -  -  -  -0150 

u  The  London  Divines  :  their  Examination  of 
the  Texts  of  Scripture  cited  by  the  Papists 
for  the  Proof  of  their  Religion  "      -  -0120 

"  Examination    of    Bellarmin's    Notes   of   the 

Church  "       -  -  -  -  -070 

"  A  Collection  of  Speeches  of  the  Right  Hon. 

Henry,  late  Earl  of  Warrington  "    -  -016 

"  History  of  the  late  Wars  in  Ireland, ? '  with  cuts     090 
"  Journal    of   the    Campaign    in    the    Spanish 

Netherlands,  1693  "  "  _  -020 

**'  Dr.  South  against  Dr.  Sherlock  on  the  Holy 

Trinity  "-  -  -  -  -056 

Clark's  "  Analysis  of  the  Bible  "  -  -080 

"  Modern  Geography  rectified  "  -  -     o  11     o 

Stillingfleet's  "  Origines  Sacrse  "  -  -060 

Dr.   Parker's  "  Demonstration  of  the  Law  of 

Nature "-  -  -  -  -056 

Mr.  Kettlewell,  "  Of  Christian  Obedience  "      -066 
Rogers,  "  On  the  Thirty-nine  Articles  "  -030 

"  Acousta  :  his  History  of  the  East  and  West 

Indies  "-  -  -  -  -070 

"  The    Principles   of   the   Muggletonians   con- 
futed "-  -  -  -  -050 
Dr.    Sherlock's    "  Discourse   of   Pro\ddence  "  ; 

his  "  Discourse  of  ye  Blessed  Trinity  "        -040 

"  Histoty  of  Wars  in  New  England  "    -  -016 

li  Description  of  Surinham  in  Guiana  "  -006 

Thirty-nine  books  and  pamphlets  relating  to  A 

the  several  sorts  of  trade  and  commerce     -     1     26 

*  Already  given  to  the  College. 


THE  KING'S  GOVERNOUR  IN  THE  COLONIES    41 

Books  in  4to.  (continued)  :  £     s.    ± 

Glanvil's  "  Sermons  "  -  -  -  -050 

Smith's  "  England's  Improvement  "     -  -040 

Manger's  "  English  Gardener  "  -  -036 

"  Narration  of  England's  Improvement  "         -040 
Cook's    "  Manner    of    Raising,    Ordering,    and 

Improving  Forest  and  Fruit  Trees  -  -036 

"  Mr.  Stephan's  Two  Sermons  (a  Duplicat)  of 

the  30th  of  January  " 
"  The  Protestant  Bridle:  being  an  Answer  to  it " 
"  Dr.    Birch  :     his    Sermon    Jan.    30.     Oxford 

House  of  Commons  " 
"A   Sermon   concerning   the   Lawfulness   and 

Expediency  of  Church  Music  " 
11  Religion  the  only  Happiness  n 
'*  The  Anatomy  of  Atheism  "    - 
M  The  Passages  of  Newport  "  - 
"  Dr.  Craddock's  Sermon  before  the  King  "     - 
M  Bishop  of  Sarum's  Sermon  at   the  Corona- 
tion of  King  William  and  Queen  Mary  " 

Books  in  Svo.  and  i2mo.  : 

"  Bishop  of  Sarum's  Four  Discourses  :  (1)  Con- 
cerning the  Truth  of  the  Christian  Religion  ; 
(2)  The  Divinity  and  Death  of  Christ  ;  (3) 
The  Infallibility  and  Authority  of  the 
Church ;  (4)  The  Obligations  to  continue  in 
the  Communion  of  the  Church  "  -036 

♦His  "  Discourse  of  the  Pastoral  Care  "  -     o     3     o 
♦His    "  Account  of  the  Life   of  Bishop 

Bedell  "  -  -  -  -040 

♦His  "  Translation  of  Sir  Thos.  Moore's 

1  Utopia  '  "     -  -  -  -026 

♦His  "  Life  of  Judge  Hale  "  -  -020 

"  Character     of    Queen     Elizabeth     and     her 

Ministers  of  State  "  -  -  -  -040 

Father  Paul's  "  Letters  "  -  -  -046 

Sir  Josiah  Child's  "  Discourse  of  Trade  "  -026 

"  The  Works  of  the  Author  of  '  The  Whole  Duty 

of  Man, '  "  in  4  vols.  -  -  -0156 

Dr.    Scot's    "Christian   Life,"   in    3    parts   in 

2  vols.  -  -  -  -  -0116 

Dr.   Burton's   "  Discourses  and   Sermons,"  in 

2  vols.  -  -  -  -  -070 

♦  Already  given  to  the  College. 


42  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

Books  in  Svo.  and  \2mo.  (continued) : 

Dr.  Wake's  "  Discourses  and  Sermons'* 
Dr.  Clagget's  "  Seventeen  Sermons  "  - 
Archbishop  Tillotson's  "  Sermons,"  in  2  vols  - 

His  "  Rule  of  Faith  " 
Dr.  Cave's  "Primitive  Christianity  "    - 

His  u  Ancient  Church  Government  " 
Dr.    Puller's    "  Moderation   of  the   Church   of 

England  "     - 
"  Answer  to  Sir  Josiah  Child,  Of  Trade  " 
Leybourn's   "  Panarithmologia  relating  to 

Trade,"  etc.-  - 

"  George  :  his  Survey  of  the  West  Indies  " 
Morland's  "  Vade  Mecum  " 
'"  Bishop  Wilkins  :  his  Sermons  " 

His  "  Natural  Religion  "  - 
Tullie's  "  Discourse  of  the  Government  of  the 

Thoughts  "  - 
"  History  of  the  Empire  of  China  " 
"  Jesuit's  Memorial  for  the  Intended  Reforma- 
tion of  the  Church  of  England  "     - 
11  Present  State  of  the  German  Empire  " 
*'  History  of  Monastic  Orders  " 
Dr.  Hammond's  "  Practical  Catechism  " 
"  Bishop  Jewell's  Apology,  with  his  Life,  by  a 

Person  of  Quality  " 
Dr.  Horneck's  "  Law  of  Consideration  " 

His  u  Best  Exercise  " 
Bishop  Nicholson's  "  Exposition  of  the  Church 

Catechism  " 
Bishop  Patrick's  M  Mensa  Mystica  " 
His  "  Christian  Sacrifice  " 
His  ' '  Paraphrase  of  the  Psalms  "  - 
His  "  Paraphrase  on  the  Book  of  Job  "     - 
His  "  Paraphrase  on  the  Proverbs  of  Solo- 
mon " 
His  "  Paraphrase  on  Ecclesiastes  " 
Dr.  Bateson,  "  The  Divine  Attributes  " 
Sir  William  Temple's  "  Works,"  in  2  vols. 
Sir  Thomas  Pope  Blount's  "  Natural  History  " 
"  Conquest  of  Florida  by  the  Spaniards  " 
4<  Suetonius  :  his  Lives  of  the  Twelve  Caesars  in 
English"      ----- 
"  Art  of  Prudence  ;  or,  The  Courtier's  Oracle  " 
"  Life  of  Agathorles,  the  Sicilian  Tyrant  " 
Plinie's  "  Panegyrick  of  the  Emperor  Trajan  " 
(English)       -  -  -  -  -     o 


£ 

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THE  KING'S  GOVERNOUR  IN  THE  COLONIES    43 


Books  in  Svo.  and  \2n10.  (continued)  : 

Earl  of  Carlile's  "  Embassies  to  Muscovy  " 

Tanner's  "  Rise  of  the  First  Church  of  God  "   - 

Gailhard,  "  Of  Settlement  after  Travel  " 

"  Countryman's  Jewell  " 

Mountaign's  "  Essays,"  in  3  vols. 
•Mr.  Lock's  "  Thoughts  on  Education  " 

"  Gentleman's  Recreation  " 

Dr.  Sherlock,  M  Of  the  Last  Judgment  " 

11  Judge  Hale  :  his  Contemplations,  Moral  and 
Divine  " 
His  "  Discourse  of  the  Knowledge  of  God  " 

Boyle,  "  Seraphic  Law  M 

Man,  M  Of  Trade  " 

"  Antoninus  :  his  Meditations  " 

Dr.  King,  "  Of  Worship  "         - 

"  Abridgment  of  Caesar's  Commentaries  " 

Euremont's  "  Essays,"  in  2  parts 

Ladies'  "Dictionary"  - 

Stillingfleet,  "  Of  Idolatry  "     - 

"  Answer  to  the  Account  of  Denmark  " 

Du  Pin's  "  Life  of  Christ  " 

Faldo,  "  Against  the  Quakers  " 

Hallywell,  u  Against  Quakers  " 

Allen,  "  Against  Quakers  " 

Norris,  "  Against  Quakers  " 

"  The  Swiss  Liturgy  "   - 

Peachy's  "  Herbal  " 

Sydenham's  "  Cure  of  Diseases  " 

"  Catalogue  of  Nobility  " 

"  Mieges  :  his  New  State  of  England  "  - 

Milton's  "  Letters  "  (English)  - 

Bishop  of  Cork's  "  Method  of  Private  Devo- 
tion ''----- 

"  Devout  Communicant  " 
♦Six  books  called  "The  Art  of  Catechizing  ;  or, 
The  Complete  Catechist  "    - 

Sir  Walter  Ralegh's  "  Remains  " 

Bohun's  M  Geographic  Dictionary  " 

Cole's  "  Enghsh  Dictionary  "    - 

"  Anatomie  of  the  Elder  Tree  " 

"  Kalendarum  Hortense  " 

M  Royal  Institutions  :  a  Treatise  of  Silver  and 
Gold  Mines  " 

Dr.  Sherlock's  "  Discourse  of  Death  "  - 


£ 

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*  Already  given  to  the  College. 


44  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

Hooks  in  Svo.  and  i2mo.  {continued):  /    s     d 

Hidrocles,      "  On     Pythagoras  :     his     Golden 

Verses  "        - 
"The   Golden   Rule;    or,   The   Royal  Law  of 

Equity"        -  - 

"  Lady's  New  Year's  Gift  " 
'*  Historical  Account  of  William  III."  - 
Donington's  "  Reformed  Devotions  "   - 
His  "  Family  Devotions,"  in  2  vols. 
"  McMorand,"  a  Duplicate  of  the  first  vol. 
"  Patrick  :  his  Golden  Century  of  Psalms  "  (?) 

(indistinct)  ----- 

Before  we  leave  our  necessarily  brief  view  of  the 
Governour  and  his  work,  we  have  copied  the  Parliamen- 
tariana  ppointment  of  the  Governour  of  Rhode  Island. 
It  is  an  original  document,  and  has  the  seal  attached  in 
a  cedar  box. 

This  document  has  acquired  a  new  importance,  since 
the  above  was  written,  by  the  fact  that  it  has  been 
presented,  with  the  King's  consent,  to  the  President  of 
the  United  States  of  America  by  the  Bishop  of  London. 
When  the  document  was  brought  before  the  Bishop's 
notice  he  took  legal  advice  as  to  its  importance  and  its 
ownership.  The  matter  was  then  laid  before  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  and  ultimately  before  His  Majesty 
the  King,  who  agreed  that  the  document  might  be  pre- 
sented to  the  United  States ;  this  is  explained  by  the 
following  extract  from  the  Times  : 

"  New  York  wras  reached  late  on  the  evening  of  the 
24th,  the  Bishop  and  his  travelling  companions  going 
direct  to  Long  Island,  where  they  were  the  guests  of 
Mr.  Silas  McBee,  editor  of  the  Churchman. 

"  The  Bishop  left  New  York  on  the  Friday  morning 
for  Washington,  where  he  had  engagements  at  the  laying 
of  the  foundation-stone  of  the  new  cathedral,  and  at  the 
Convention  of  the  Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew.  The 
Bishop,  being  met  on  arrival  by  the  Bishop  of  Washing- 


THE  KING'S  GOVERNOUR  IN  THE  COLONIES    45 

ton,  proceeded  to  the  White  House,  where  he  was  the 
guest  of  the  President  during  the  first  part  of  his  stay. 
An  interesting  feature  of  the  visit  was  the  presentation  to 
President  Roosevelt  of  the  original  deed  appointing 
Colonel  Coddington  first  Governor  of  Rhode  Island. 
This  document  was  found  in  the  Muniment  Room  at 
Fulham  Palace,  and  has  the  seal  of  the  Cromwellian 
Government,  with  the  signature  of  Bradshaw.  It  was 
handed  over  to  the  President  with  the  sanction  of  King 
Edward  VII.,  and  your  correspondent  is  allowed  to  say 
how  greatly  this  gift  was  appreciated  by  President 
Roosevelt  "  (Times,  October  10,  1907). 

11 1  was  pleased  at  being  allowed  by  King  Edward 
and  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  and  the  Dean  of 
St.  Paul's — all  of  whose  permissions  I  felt  bound  con- 
stitutionally to  ask — to  leave  behind  a  present  which 
specially  gratified  him  (President  Roosevelt)  as  an 
admirer  and  student  of  Cromwell — the  original  appoint- 
ment of  Colonel  Coddington  as  Governor  of  Rhode 
Island,  with  the  rare  Cromwellian  seal,  and  signed  by 
Bradshaw,  discovered  by  the  energy  of  the  Rev.  Sadler 
Phillips  in  the  Muniment  Room  at  Fulham"  (Letter 
of  the  Bishop  of  London,  London  Diocesan  Magazine, 
November,  1907). 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Parliamentarian  ap- 
pointment of  Governour  Coddington  to  Rhode  Island 
referred  to  : 

11  Whereas  by  Act  of  Parliament  of  the  3rd  October 
last  it  was  granted  to  the  councell  of  state  to  have  power 
and  authority  over  all  such  islands  and  all  other  places 
as  have  been  planted  at  the  cost  and  settled  by  the  people 
and  authority  of  this  nation  and  there  or  in  any  of  the 
said  islands  to  institute  a  governour  and  grant  a  Com- 
mission or  commissions  to  such   person  or  persons  as 


46  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

they  shall  think  fit  and  to  do  all  just  things  and  to  use 
all  lawful  means  for  the  benefit  and  preservation  of  the 
said  plantations  and  islands  in  peace  and  safety  until 
the  Parliament  shall  take  other  or  further  order  therein 
any  letters  patents  or  other  authority  formerly  granted 
or  given  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

11  And  whereas  William  Coddington  esq.  at  the  great 
hazard  of  cost  and  charges  of  himself  and  others  did 
about  the  year  1637  resolve  to  plant  or  set  down  upon 
Acquedneck,  also  Rhode  Island  in  Quinnegat  being 
islands  inhabited  and  frequented  by  the  Indians  lying 
within  the  Narraganset  bay  in  the  hither  parts  of 
America  and  did  for  valuable  considerations  purchase  the 
said  islands  of  and  from  the  two  chief  sachems  of  the 
Narragansetts  and  the  neighbouring  sachem  of  So  wan- 
sett  and  of  and  from  the  two  petty  sachems  of  the  said 
islands  with  the  consent  of  the  native  people  thereof 
wherein  the  said  William  Coddington  and  others  have 
ever  since  been  and  now  are  in  quiet  and  peaceable 
possession  and  seizure. 

11  Forasmuch  also  as  the  said  William  Coddington 
aforesaid  and  others  are  desirous  to  go  on  in  the  popu- 
lating and  planting  of  the  said  islands  and  to  put  them- 
selves and  the  said  islands  under  the  protection  of  this 
state  and  to  hold  and  enjoy  the  same  and  under  grant 
power  and  authority  of  this  nation  and  state  of  England. 

"  The  said  councell  for  the  better  encouragement  of 
the  said  adventurers  and  carrying  on  so  good  a  work  and 
reposing  confidence  in  the  ability,  wisdom,  and  faithful- 
ness, and  good  affection  of  you  the  said  William  Codding- 
ton do  by  these  presents  make  and  constitute  you  to  be 
governour  of  the  said  islands  hereby  giving  and  granting 
unto  you  the  said  William  Coddington  full  power  and 
authority  to  take  upon  you  the  office  and  exercise  of  the 
government  of  the  said  islands  and  to  cause  equal  and 


THE  KING'S  GOVERNOUR  IN  THE  COLONIES    47 

indifferent  justice  to  be  duly  administered  to  all  the  good 
people  in  the  said  islands  inhabiting  according  to  the  law 
established  in  this  land. 

"  As  far  as  the  constitution  of  these  places  will  permit 
in  the  name  of  the  keepers  of  the  liberties  of  England 
by  authority  of  Parliament  and  to  use  and  observe  the 
same  and  no  other  form  or  style  in  commissions  and  in 
his  disputations  instructions  and  in  any  other  legal  and 
civil  proceedings  but  according  to  the  forms  directed  by 
this  present  parliament  since  the  abolishing  of  Kingship 
and  the  alteration  of  governour. 

"  And  you  are  further  to  raise  forces  for  defence  and 
exact  and  do  all  just  things  and  use  all  lawful  means  to 
settle  and  improve  and  preserve  the  said  island  in  peace 
and  safety  until  the  Parliament  shall  take  other  or 
further  order  therein  unto  whom  or  to  this  councell  you 
are  to  give  account  of  your  proceedings  from  time  to 
time  and  to  present  as  needs  emerge  what  you  conceive 
to  be  for  the  good  of  the  said  islands  and  for  the  advan- 
tage and  interest  of  this  commonwealth  in  the  sole  order 
and  dispensing  of  the  same. 

"  Moreover  you  the  said  William  Coddington  after 
your  entrance  upon  the  government  of  the  said  islands 
are  to  call  unto  yourself  for  the  better  advantage  of  your 
office  and  government  a  councell  consisting  of  persons 
really  qualified  for  judgement  and  good  affections  to  the 
said  Commonwealth  not  exceeding  the  number  of  six 
in  the  manner  hereof  set  down  and  expressed,  viz  : 

11  That  the  said  persons  shall  be  nominated  by  such 
free  holders  of  the  towns  of  Newport  and  Portsmouth 
within  the  said  islands  as  shall  be  well  affected  to  the 
government  of  this  Commonwealth  according  to  the 
instructions  and  the  act  in  that  case  provided  and  after- 
wards to  be  confirmed  by  you  the  said  governour  such 
persons  so  nominated  and  afterwards  chosen  and  con- 


48  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

firmed  by  you  the  said  governour  as  aforesaid  or  any 
other  or  more  of  them  shall  sit  in  council  and  are  to  be 
assisting  unto  you  in  the  affairs  belonging  unto  all 
matters  until  that  time  twelve-month  at  which  time  a  new 
election  is  to  be  made  as  aforesaid  and  so  only. 

"  And  you  have  hereby  power  and  are  authorised  to 
tender  The  Engagement  in  these  words  : 

"  I  do  declare  and  promise  that  I  will  be  true  and 

faithful  to  the  Commonwealth  of  England  as 

the  same  is  now  established  without  a  king  or 

house  of  Lords  " 

to  those  who  shall  be  from  time  to  time   elected  as 

aforesaid   to  be  of  your   counsell   which    Engagement 

they  are  to  subscribe  before  they  can  act  anything  as 

such  counsell  as  aforesaid. 

"  And  you  are  also  to  tender  such  engagement  to  all 
those  who  by  this  present  Commission  are  to  have  a  voice 
in  the  said  election  and  not  suffer  any  person  to  have  a 
vote  in  the  said  elections  who  have  not  first  subscribed 
the  said  engagement. 

"  The  said  persons  your  counsell  are  hereby  also  author- 
ised in  case  of  your  absence  or  death  to  make  choice  of 
some  other  fit  person  qualified  as  aforesaid  to  succeed  you 
in  the  government  until  the  Parliament  or  counsell  of 
state  shall  give  further  order  herein.  Care  being  taken 
always  by  yourself  and  counsell  that  the  interests  of  the 
Commonwealth  shall  be  preserved  according  to  the  trusts 
and  true  meaning  of  the  powers  herewith  to  you  given. 
"  Given  at  the  councell  of  state  at  White  Hall  this 
third  day  of  April  1651. 

The   Seal   of   THE  "  Signed  in  the  name  and  by  the  order 
Council  of  State  of  the  Counsell  of  state  appointed 

appointed  by  Par-         b    authority  of  Parliament. 

LIAMENT  ENCLOSED  J  J 

in     Cedar  -  wood  Jo  :   BRADSHAW 

BOX,    LID    MISSING.  «  pYesi&ent» 


THE  KING'S  GOVERNOUR  IN  THE  COLONIES    49 

The  instructions  to  the  Governour  evidently  followed  a 
type  ;  they  were  marked  by  slightly  varying  character- 
istics, but  the  type  remained.  It  was  to  make  a  new 
settlement,  or  a  smaller  England  over  the  sea  ;  it  was  to 
enable  the  emigrants,  when  far  from  home,  to  live  in  as 
homelike  a  manner  as  possible,  and  to  provide  that 
fidelity,  safety,  stability,  and  freedom  which  ages  of 
experience  had  taught  the  Motherland. 

The  instructions  were  to  make  all  the  Englishmen 
abroad  work  for  the  common  good  of  both  the  new  and 
the  old  country  ;  it  was  a  royal  command.  A  slight 
contrast  is  evident  when  we  examine  the  earlier  docu- 
ment with  this  later  one,  which  varied  from  the  type 
because  of  the  extraordinary  conditions  under  which 
it  was  granted. 

The  following  shows  the  way  in  which  the  freedom  of 
the  Press  was  interfered  with  as  early  as  1728  : 

"At  a  council  held  at  the  council  chamber  in  Boston 
upon  Thursday  the  2nd  Sep.  1725. 

u  The  Hon.  the  Lieutenant  Governour  Communicated 
a  Memorial  he  had  received  from  the  rev.  Dr.  Timothy 
Cutler  complaining  of  some  unjust  reflections  cast  on 
him  in  the  Boston  newspaper  number  11 25  (said  to  be) 
1  published  by  authority/  relating  to  his  performing 
service  at  a  Meeting  house  in  Scituate  the  28th  of  July 
last,  which  being  read  and  considered  His  Majesty's 
council  gave  the  following  advice  : 

"  Whereas  inconveniences  have  once  and  again  arisen 
to  the  Government  by  several  matters  being  printed  in 
the  News  Papers  that  are  said  to  be  published  by  autho- 
rity which  have  never  been  known  to  the  Government  or 
offered  for  their  approbation, 

"  Advised  that  his  hon.  the  Lie't.  Governour  give  his 

4 


50  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

orders  to  the  Publishers  of  the  several  News  Papers  not 
to  insert  in  their  papers  those  words  '  Published  by 
authority/  or  words  of  the  like  import  in  future. 

"  (Copy  examined)  J.  Willard,  secry." 

Great  as  he  was,  even  the  Governour  was  not  allowed 
unchallenged  to  settle  matters  concerning  his  chaplain 
when  going  on  the  war-path. 

"  To  his  excellency  Jonathan  Belcher  esq.  Gov'r  and 
commander  in  chief  in  and  over  His  Majesty's  Province 
of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  &c.  The  remonstrance  and 
representation  of  the  minister  churchwardens  and  vestry 
of  Kings  chapel  in  Boston  July  9,  1732. 

11  Humbly  sheweth 

14  That  with  the  greatest  concern  they  hear  your  ex- 
cellency has  laid  your  commands  upon  the  rev.  Thomas 
Harward  to  attend  you  in  the  designed  expedition  and 
treaty  with  the  eastern  Indians.  And  that  he  without 
duly  considering  his  own  duty  and  the  present  circum- 
stances of  the  church  implicitly  obeys  them  and  that  in 
opposition  to  Mr.  Commissaries  order. 

"  It  is  with  the  like  concern  that  we  should  have  this 
unhappy  occasion  of  calling  in  question  such  your  excel- 
lency's authority  ;  being  desirous  always  of  distinguish- 
ing ourselves  as  our  holy  religion  does  our  church,  in 
being  the  most  dutiful  and  most  loyal  in  all  things 
lawful.  But  we  must  with  submission  now  remonstrate, 
That  Mr.  Harward's  duty  is  local  and  no  power  but  the 
power  that  appointed  him  for  that  duty  can  dispence 
therewith.  However  such  is  our  attachment  to  your 
excellency  and  the  honour  we  pay  to  your  high  station 
that  we  cheerfully  would  fall  into  such  your  commands  ; 
but  it  is  well  known  that  the  absence  of  the  rev.  Mr.  Pigot 
has  been  the  means  of  many  members  falling  away  from 


THE  KING'S  GOVERNOUR  IN  THE  COLONIES    51 


the  episcopal  Church  of  Mablehead  ;  so  Mr.  Harward's 
attending  you  in  this  expedition  may  we  greatly  fear 
be  the  means  not  only  of  shutting  up  that  church's  doors, 
but  possibly  terminate  in  the  ruin  of  it  ;  and  that  prob- 
ably may  be  the  secret  views  of  the  enemies  of  our  church 
who  advise  your  excellency  in  this  matter. 

11  We  also  beg  of  you  to  consider,  if  it  please  God  to 
visit  Mr.  Comissary  Price  with  sickness,  then  two  churches 
will  be  without  ministers  :  And  probably  'twas  from 
such  like  reasons  that  our  ministers  have  not  attended 
Governours  on  such  negotiations. 

11  As  your  excellency  has  declared  in  the  strongest 
terms,  your  readiness  to  serve  the  Church  of  England, 
we  flatter  ourselves  you  will,  now,  give  demonstra- 
tion, in  recalling  orders  that,  inevitably,  must  tend 
to  the  hurt  thereof  :  and  as  in  duty  we  will  every 
pray  &c. 

"  Roger  Price,  Minister  &  Commissary. 
11  George  Stewart,  Churchwarden. 


u  Francis  Brinley. 
Robert  Auchmuty. 
George  Craddock. 
John  Eastwicke. 
Estes  Hatch. 
William  Randle. 
Jonathan  Pue. 
James  Smith. 

Rev.  Mr.  Price. 
Dr.  Geo.  Stewart. 
Francis  Briniey,  Esq. 
Robt.  Auchmuty,  Esq. 
Mr.  John  Eastwicke. 
Mr.  Geo.  Craddock. 
Coll.  Estes  Hatch. 


John  Arbuthnot. 
John  Gibbins. 
Thomas  Phillips. 
John  Checkley. 
Thomas  Child. 
William  Speakman. 
Benjamin  Walker. 
Robert  Skinner. 
Thomas  Greene. 


A  Committee  to  present 
this  Remonstrance  to 
his  Excellency." 


4—2 


52 


THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 


His  Excellency's  answer  to  the  Committee  upon  the 
delivery  of  this  Remonstrance  was,  "It  is  very  well, 
gentlemen." 

An  Unsigned  and  Undated  Paper  {date  inserted  in 
pencil,  1759)  showing  the  Various  Forms  of  Colonial 
Government. 

"  New  England  an  account  of  the  Government  of  the 
several  provinces  (?  1759). 

11  New  England 
"  between  St.  Croix  on  the  North  and  de  la  warre  on 
the  south  distant  five  hundred  miles  between  the  north 
latitude  of  40  and  44  hath  these  provinces  : 


New  Hampshire. 

/bv  a  Governour  from  the 
'King. 

Massachusetts.  * 

ith 

by  a  captain  general  from 

the    Province 

of 

the  King. 

Main  &  Plymouth 

Colony. 

T5 

Rhoad  island. 

.  s  J 

by  their  own  election. 

Connecticut. 

> 

M                    9  J                    3  J 

New  York. 

0 

by  a  captain  general  from 
the  King. 

East  Jersey. 

by  proprietary  govern- 
ment. 

West  Jersey. 

by    proprietary   govern- 

\     ment. 
Kings  province  without  any  government." 

All  these  provinces  are  equally  English  Plantations, 
should  have  the  same  English  laws,  government,  security 
from  and  dependence  upon  the  Crown  of  England,  and 
are  equally  concerned  in  the  hazards  of  war,  particularly 


THE  KING'S  GOVERN  OUR  IN  THE  COLONIES    S3 

at  the  time  with  the  French  and  Indians,  and  are  natur- 
ally seated  from  two  heads — viz.,  Boston  and  New  York 
— distant  from  each  other  300  miles. 

For  want  of  which  there  are  different  Laws  and  forms 
of  administration  very  disagreeable,  not  in  lesser  matters, 
but  even  in  the  descent  of  estates  at  the  common  law  in 
matters  criminal  and  capital.  Frequent  jars  between 
the  King's  Governour  and  those  that  hold  by  seisure  of 
themselves,  never  to  be  adjusted  where  there  is  no 
superiority  nor  umpirage,  "  and  in  present  exigencies  M 
impossible  to  be  seasonably  determined  by  the  King. 

Great  disorder  in  the  matter  of  war,  the  less  indepen- 
dent and  elective  provinces  being  under  no  compulsion 
for  any  quota  of  men  or  money,  so  that  in  some  parts 
one  village  pays  £500  per  annum  to  the  war,  and  another 
of  the  same  value  not  one  farthing. 

In  the  settlement  of  the  Massachusetts  at  Boston  by 
their  Majesty's  gracious  favour,  all  is  done  for  their 
Majesty's  subjects  there  which  they  have  desired — viz., 
their  lands,  religion,  liberties  granted  and  secured  under 
the  Great  Seal  of  England,  and  the  administration  of 
government  put  into  form  and  made  easy. 

On  the  part  of  the  Crown  it  would  be  provided  that 
the  laws  of  England,  common  and  statute,  which  have 
hitherto  always  been,  or  ought  to  have  been,  the  laws 
of  all  these  provinces,  should  be  so  declared,  and  the 
Government  there  directed  to  present  to  the  King,  not 
Magna  Charta,  or  chapters  of  capital  laws,  but  such  by- 
laws as  the  several  provinces  in  their  settlement  require, 
which  are  not  provided  for  by  the  common  or  statute 
laws  of  England. 

That  persons  be  employed  in  the  Government  that  do 
indeed  love  the  Crown  of  England,  the  strict  dependence 
of  the  Plantations  thereupon,  and  their  present  Majesties, 


54  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

and  their  happy  administration  in  the  Government,  if 
otherwise  it  shall  happen  that  persons  of  no  conduct  nor 
skill,  either  of  the  law  or  the  sword,  must  be  employed, 
it  will  scandalize  the  common  and  unthinking  sorts  of 
people,  supposing  they  are  disregarded  by  the  Govern- 
ment of  England,  and  may  tend  towards  that  which  some 
have  been  bold  enough  to  hope  may  come  to  pass  in  a 
tract  of  time,  that  they  may  set  up  for  themselves  some 
such  example  in  the  Plantations,  which  at  present  are 
so  profitable  to  the  Crown,  a  system  which  will  have  a 
dangerous  influence  over  the  rest. 

The  Governour  to  the  Bishop. 

"  Boston,  N.E., 
"SIR,  "May  isth,  1724. 

"  I  have  the  honour  of  your  Lordship's  letter  of 
the  29th  Nov.,  which  I  received  not  till  the  middle  of 
April ;  I  heartily  congratulate  your  Lordship  upon 
your  promotion  to  the  See  of  London,  to  which  your 
eminent  piety  and  learning,  moderation  and  firm  attach- 
ment to  His  Majesty's  Interest  and  Government  and 
the  Protestant  succession  do  so  justly  entitle  you  ; 
And  I  do  assure  your  lordship  That  this  government 
have  a  good  part  of  the  general  satisfaction  in  your 
lordship's  translation  to  a  place  of  that  import  and  trust 
in  the  Church  of  England.  I  shall  always  use  my  best 
endeavours  to  answer  to  your  lordship's  desire  and  ex- 
pectation by  countenancing  and  encouraging  the  Church 
and  the  ministers  thereof  in  their  endeavours  to  promote 
piety,  loyalty  and  good  manners  so  long  as  I  have  the 
honour  to  serve  His  Majesty  in  the  chief  command  over 
this  province  ;  And  have  had  an  early  occasion  to  give 
your  Lordship  a  proof  of  the  reality  of  my  intention 
herein. 


THE  KINGS  GOVERN  OUR  IN  THE  COLONIES    55 

11  Some  months  since  one  John  Checkley  a  shopkeeper 
in  this  place  and  a  person  of  known  disaffection  to  his 
Majesty  and  now  under  bonds  for  recusancy  published 
a  book  entitled  a  short  and  easy  Method  with  the  Deists 
to  which  he  added  a  discourse  concerning  episcopacj' 
(the  most  of  which  discourses  were  taken  from  the 
writings  of  the  late  Mr.  Lesley)  which  book  gave  great 
offence  to  his  Majesty's  Government  of  this  province 
more  especially  for  that  an  indefeazible  hereditary  right 
of  the  Crown  was  therein  advanced  and  a  parliamenatry 
right  oppugned  and  denied  and  the  said  book  and  pub- 
lisher were  presented  by  the  Grand  Jury  for  the  county 
of  Suffolk  at  the  last  General  sessions  of  the  peace  upon 
which  the  said  Checkley  withdrew  and  remained  out  of 
the  province  till  the  end  of  the  session.  During  the 
prosecution  of  this  book  the  rev.  Mr.  Harris  one  of  the 
ministers  of  his  Majesty's  chapel  in  this  town  preached 
a  sermon  in  the  said  chapel  in  which  he  condemned  the 
tenets  advanced  and  warned  his  auditors  against  en- 
couraging and  abetting  the  said  book  and  author. 
Upon  which  he  acquainted  me  That  he  was  sent  for  by 
the  gentlemen  of  the  vestry  to  give  an  answer  to  the  ex- 
ceptions they  had  taken  at  his  said  discourse  ;  Mr. 
Harris  looking  upon  himself  under  great  hardships  that 
he  should  be  called  to  account  by  his  people  for  any- 
thing he  had  delivered  from  the  pulpit  especially  what 
was  intended  for  the  honour  and  support  of  his  Majesty's 
government  thereupon  made  application  to  me  and  his 
Majesty's  council  complaining  of  his  treatment  and  pray- 
ing that  the  matter  might  be  heard  at  the  Board,  which 
was  done  accordingly.  And  upon  a  fair  and  impartial 
hearing  all  parties  being  present  the  Board  were  entirely 
satisfied  with  the  sermon  and  past  a  vote  which  I  here- 
with enclose  That  Mr.  Harris  be  recommended  to  your 


56  THE  EARLY  EX  GUSH  COLOXIES 

Lordship  as  a  person  of  great  loyalty  and  merit  &c. 
which  I  can  do  with  great  freedom  from  my  personal 
knowledge  of  him  to  be  a  gentleman  of  virtue  and  Learn- 
ing, and  so  capable  of  serving  the  interests  of  religion 
here,  as  to  deserve  your  lordship's  protection  and  favour. 
For  which  qualities  he  has  a  general  esteem  in  this  place 
for  the  many  years  of  his  residence  among  us.  I  have 
nothing  further  to  trouble  your  lordship  with  but  am 
with  great  respect 

"  Your  most  obed.  and  most  humble  servant 
11  Wm.  Dummer." 

In  a  useful  but  little-known  book  entitled  "  A  List 
of  Emigrant  Ministers  to  America,  1690-1811/'  by 
George  Fothergill,  1904,  from  which  some  of  the  par- 
ticulars concerning  the  Royal  Bounty  have  been  quoted, 
it  is  stated  that  "  Henry  Harris,  clerk,  returns  to  Boston, 
in  New  England.  Has  been  over  to  solicit  some  new 
establishment  for  the  ministers  in  that  country,  April  30, 

1715." 


Ill 

THE  BISHOP  OF  LONDON  AND  HIS 
ECCLESIASTICAL  JURISDICTION  IN  AMERICA 

AFTER  the  Governour,  the  resident,  the  Bishop,  who 
was  a  non-resident  official,  was  the  most  im- 
portant person.  The  dignity  of  the  Bishop  arose 
not  merely  from  the  greatness  of  his  Episcopal  See, 
although  that  was  an  important  factor,  but  chiefly  from 
his  close  relationship  at  home  with  the  Crown.  The 
Bishop  was  the  King's  sworn  liegeman,  and  nothing 
which  might  be  for  the  benefit  of  the  realm,  in  its  civil 
or  ecclesiastical  capacity,  was  beneath  the  notice  of  such 
a  trusted  official.  Moreover,  all  the  clergy  who  were 
sent  out  to  the  Colonies  were  sent  by  the  Bishop  ; 
nobody  else  could  send  them.  The  clergy  also,  unlike 
other  ministers  in  New  or  Old  England,  were  all  sworn 
liegemen  of  the  King  of  England.  To  make  good  sub- 
jects, it  was  necessary  to  make  men  good  Christians, 
and  the  experience  of  ages  had  taught  England,  that  the 
Church  of  England  way,  was  the  best  way  to  do  this, 
with  Englishmen. 

The  Bishop  is  chiefly  shown  in  this  book  in  his  con- 
nexion with  founding  and  helping  missionary  work  in 
the  colonies.  So  far  we  have  plenty  of  materials,  but 
in  the  search,  which  has  extended  over  some  years,  it  is 
curious  that  there  are  few,  if  any,  papers  in  the  Palace, 

57 


5 8  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

except  deeds  or  papers  relating  to  property,  which  are 
earlier  in  date  than  the  Restoration.  May  we  hazard 
the  conjecture  that  "  Mr.  Sacrilege  Harvey/'  as  he  was 
called,  cleared  them  all  out  ?  The  plans  were  skilfully 
laid  when  the  Bishop's  lands  were  sold,  and  it  was 
thought  they  would  never  return  to  their  episcopal 
owners,  and  therefore  the  old  letters  and  documents  may 
have  been  considered  worthless  "  relics  of  superstition." 
Or,  again,  it  may  be  that  the  relatives  of  Bishops  es- 
teemed that  some  of  the  papers  were  of  a  personal  nature, 
and  carried  them  away  at  the  death  of  the  episcopal  lord 
of  the  manor.  At  any  rate,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  many 
interesting  papers  connected  with  Fulham  may  be  found, 
and,  let  us  hope,  returned  to  their  ancient  domicile. 

The  work  of  the  Bishop  of  London  for  the  colonies 
was  extremely  varied  in  character ;  it  was  almost  end- 
less. It  began  with  the  Commission  from  the  King, 
and  that  led  to  searching  for  missionaries.  Then  the 
missionary  had  to  be  supplied  with  the  necessary 
tools — a  church,  a  house,  a  glebe,  a  library.  Then 
wages  had  to  be  found  for  the  worker — at  any  rate, 
until  local  effort  could  supply  the  need.  Then  there 
were  the  vessels  for  Holy  Communion,  glass  for  the 
windows,  ornaments  for  the  Holy  Table,  pulpit  hangings, 
and  organs.  The  church  being  so  far  ready,  books  were 
needed,  and  this  led  to  the  further  idea  of  schools. 
Schools  meant  schoolmasters,  and  these  were  almost  as 
difficult  to  provide  and  supply  as  the  ministers.  Then 
there  was  the  Governour  of  each  colony  to  be  kept  in 
close  touch  with  things  at  home  and  abroad,  from  the 
Bishop's  point  of  view,  for  were  they  not  fellow-workers 
for  England  and  its  King  ?  Then  the  planters  wanted 
the  Bishop's  consideration,  and  sometimes  they  wrote 
to  his  lordship,  occasionally  omitting  to  sign  their  names. 
Next   the   ship-owners   and   ship-masters  were   a  very 


ECCLESIASTICAL  JURISDICTION  $<j 

important  people,  for  they  conveyed  both  men  and 
goods,  as  well  as  letters,  to  those  far  outstretching 
arms  of  the  British  Empire. 

Sometimes  curious  questions  were  proposed  for  the 
solution  of  the  Bishop.  One  correspondent  asked 
whether  he  might  be  permitted  "  to  say  the  words  of 
administration  to  a  whole  railful  of  people  at  once," 
and  another  question  was  whether,  as  the  Bishop  was 
so  far  away,  priests  "  might  not  be  commissioned  to 
confirm  after  due  preparation  M  of  the  candidates.  It 
would  be  interesting  to  find  the  answers  to  these  ques- 
tions, but,  alas  !  none  remain.  Another  sent  the  Bishop 
a  letter  telling  him  of  a  curious  kind  of  hot-air  bath 
the  natives  used  ;  others  sent  native  remedies  for 
common  complaints.  Another  clergyman  asked  whether 
the  Athanasian  Creed  might  be  left  unsaid,  "  because 
some  of  the  gentlemen  did  not  favour  it." 

The  religious  revival  of  Mr.  Whitfield  caused  a  certain 
amount  of  correspondence,  whilst  the  appearance  of  two 
non-juring  Bishops  in  the  guise  of  missionaries  threatened 
complications  ;  but  they  do  not  appear  to  have  ordained 
anyone  except  a  dissenting  minister,  "  who  was  rendered 
happier  in  his  work  thereby."  The  question  of  a  regular 
episcopate  for  America  early  received  the  approval  of 
the  Bishop  of  London.  It  was  no  fault  of  the  Diocesan 
that  America  did  not  receive  the  episcopate  as  she 
had  formerly  received  presbyters  from  Fulham.  The 
difficulties  were  almost  insuperable.  Again  and  again 
the  negotiations  seemed  on  the  point  of  success,  and 
were  only  finally  overthrown  by  the  separation  of  the 
Government  of  the  two  countries.  From  the  corre- 
spondence three  obstacles  appear  :  First,  the  opposition 
of  political  dissenters  at  home  and  in  the  Colony  : 
secondly,  the  political  opposition ;  and  thirdly,  the 
custom    of    the    universal    Church,    which    prevented 


60  THE  EARLY   ENGLISH  COLONIES 

Bishops  going  to  foreign  lands  without  the  assent  and 
permission  of  the  rulers  thereof.  These  seem  to  have 
been  the  obstacles  against  which  the  Bishop  contended, 
and  before  which  his  efforts  finally  succumbed  ;  and 
passed  on  the  honour  of  sending  the  episcopate  to 
America  to  the  Episcopal  Church  of  Scotland. 

The  Bishop  of  London's  position  is  explained  in  the 
following  document,  entitled,  "  A  true  state  of  the 
Bishop  of  London's  Jurisdiction  in  the  Plantations 
abroad  ": 

"  After  the  restoration  of  King  Charles  the  second, 
and  in  the  course  of  his  reign,  regular  congregations  for 
the  public  worship  of  God  according  to  the  Church  of 
England,  were  settled  in  several  of  the  Plantations 
abroad  and  supply' d  from  thence  with  ministers  by  the 
Bishop  of  London  :  who  was  understood  to  be  entrusted 
with  the  direction  and  management  of  ecclesiastical 
affairs  within  the  several  governments  ;  and  this  (as  has 
been  generally  supposed)  in  virtue  of  a  particular  Order 
of  Council  for  that  end.  And  there  was  and  still  is  a 
clause  in  the  instructions  to  every  governour  which  sup- 
poses a  jurisdiction  in  the  Bishop  of  London,  but  doth 
not  mention  the  extent  of  it. 

"  Accordingly  Commissions  were  granted  from  time 
to  time  by  Bishop  Compton  and  Bishop  Robinson  under 
their  episcopal  seals  " — here  a  manuscript  note  in  the 
margin  says  "  they  had  no  commission  under  the  Great 
Seal  " — "  to  one  or  more  clergymen  in  each  govern- 
ment for  the  exercise  of  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction 
therein  according  to  the  laws  and  Canons  of  the  Church 
of  England. 

11  But  the  present  Bishop,  though  apprised  of  the 
practice  of  his  predecessors,  and  that  it  was  generally 
supposed   to   be   warranted   by   an   order   of    Council, 


ECCLESIASTICAL  JURISDICTIOX  61 

thought  it  incumbent  upon  him  to  be  well  assured  upon 
what  foundation  it  subsisted,  before  he  took  upon  him 
to  grant  Commissions  under  his  episcopal  seal  for  the 
exercise  of  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  beyond  the  limits 
of  his  own  diocese  ;  the  Plantations  being  no  part  of  the 
Diocese  of  London,  nor  the  Ecclesiastical  affairs  thereof 
under  his  care,  any  otherwise  than  by  special  authority 
from  the  King,  who  if  he  please  may  as  well  authorize 
any  other  Bishop  for  that  purpose. 

14  To  satisfy  himself  upon  this  point  He  examin'd  all 
the  Council  Books  of  the  Reign  of  Charles  the  second 
page  by  page,  but  did  not  find  any  such  Order  of  Council, 
either  entered  there  or  remaining  in  the  Council  office. 
And  he  was  moreover  informed  by  very  able  Lawyers 
that  such  an  order  though  it  should  be  found  would  not 
warrant  the  Bishop  to  grant  commission  to  others, 
unless  he  himself  should  be  first  empowered  so  to  do  by 
a  Commission  from  the  King  under  the  great  seal ;  the 
Plantations  being  not  part  of  any  Diocese  but  remaining 
under  the  sole  and  immediate  jurisdiction  of  the  King  ; 
and  that  Jurisdiction  not  to  be  legally  delegated  but 
under  the  great  seal  +."  (A  cross  here  is  made  in  ink, 
which  probably  refers  to  the  manuscript  note  inserted 
before.     See  p.  60.) 

"  During  these  enquiries  the  Bishop  forbore  to  appoint 
Commissaries  in  any  of  the  plantations,  until  he  should 
find  himself  clearly  authoriz'd,  and  in  order  to  this  he 
presented  a  memorial  to  his  late  Majesty  in  Council, 
setting  forth  the  premisses  and  humbly  praying  his 
Majesty's  Direction  therein. 

"  And  because  he  foresaw,  and  was  informed,  That 
the  exercise  of  an  ecclesiastical  Jurisdiction  over  the 
whole  Body  of  the  Laity  in  the  Plantations  might  occa- 
sion great  uneasiness,  and  perhaps  public  disturbance  ; 


62  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

he  humbly  proposed  at  the  same  time  to  his  Majesty  in 
Council  That  the  Commission  under  the  Great  Seal,  if 
thought  proper  to  be  granted,  might  extend  only  to  the 
clergy,  and  to  such  other  Persons  and  Matters  as  con- 
cerned the  Repair  of  Churches,  and  the  decent  perform- 
ance of  Divine  Service  therein  :  Which  was  approved 
and  a  Commission  accordingly  order'd  and  issued. 

"  After  this  the  Bishop  presented  a  second  Petition 
to  his  late  Majesty  relating  to  the  correction  and  Re- 
formation of  the  Lives  and  Manners  of  the  Laity,  in  the 
several  Governments  of  the  Plantations.  According  to 
the  Prayer  of  this  Petition,  his  Majesty  was  graciously 
pleased  to  order  in  Council  That  an  additional  instruc- 
tion should  be  sent  to  the  several  governours  of  the  fol- 
lowing Tenor  :  '  His  Majesty  having  had  under  his  royal 
consideration  a  Petition  from  the  Right  reverend  Father 
in  God,  Edmund  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  humbly  be- 
seeching him  to  send  Instructions  to  the  Governours  of 
all  the  several  Plantations  in  America,  that  they  cause 
all  Laws  already  made  against  Blasphemy,  Prophane- 
ness,  Adultery,  Fornication,  Polygamy,  Incest,  Prophana- 
tion  of  the  Lord's  day,  Swearing,  and  Drunkenness,  in 
their  respective  Governments  to  be  vigorously  executed  ; 
and  that  his  Majesty  thinking  it  highly  just  that  all 
persons  who  offend  in  any  of  the  Particulars  aforesaid 
should  be  prosecuted  and  punished  for  their  said  offences  : 
It  is  therefore  His  Majesty's  Will  and  pleasure,  That 
you  take  due  care  for  the  punishment  of  the  aforemen- 
tioned vices,  and  that  you  earnestly  recommend  it  to 

the  Assembly  of  his  Majesty's  Province  of 

to  provide  effectual  laws  for  the  restraint  and  punish- 
ment of  all  such  of  the  aforementioned  vices  against 
which  no  laws  are  as  yet  provided  ;  and  also  you  are  to 
use  your  endeavours  to  render  the  Laws  in  being  more 
effectual,  by  providing  for  the  punishment  of  the  afore- 


ECCLESIASTICAL  JURISDICTION  63 

mentioned  vices,  by  presentment  upon  Oath  to  be  made 
to  the  Temporal  Courts,  by  the  Church  wardens  of  the 
several  parishes,  at  proper  times  of  the  year  to  be  ap- 
pointed for  that  purpose.  And  for  further  discourage- 
ment of  vice  and  the  Encouragement  of  virtue  and  good 
living  (that  by  such  example  the  Infidels  may  be  invited, 
and  desire  to  embrace  the  Christian  religion)  you  are 
not  to  admit  any  person  to  public  trusts  and  employ- 
ments in  the  province  under  your  Government  whose 
ill  fame  and  conversation  may  occasion  Scandal.  And 
it  is  His  Majesty's  further  Will  and  pleasure  That  you 
recommend  to  the  assembly  to  enter  upon  proper 
methods  for  the  erecting  and  maintaining  of  Schools, 
in  order  to  the  training  up  of  youth  to  Reading  and  to 
a  necessary  Knowledge  of  the  Principles  of  Religion/ 

"  The  Commission  above  mentioned  expired  upon  the 
death  of  his  late  Majesty,  and  before  a  new  one  could 
pass  the  Great  Seal,  it  was  represented  to  the  Bishop 
that  inasmuch  as  the  Laws  of  the  several  Governments 
have  already  provided  for  the  repair  of  Churches,  and 
the  furnishing  such  things  as  are  necessary  for  the  decent 
performance  of  Divine  Service  ;  and  taking  that  Care 
out  of  the  hands  of  the  Vestries  which  are  chiefly  en- 
trusted with  it,  would  probably  give  uneasiness  and  be 
the  occasion  of  having  the  Fabricks  and  Furniture  of 
Churches  not  so  well  taken  care  of  as  they  are  at  present. 
Whereupon  the  Bishop  desiring  as  much  as  possible  to 
avoid  giving  offence  and  the  raising  any  uneasiness  was 
content  that  the  new  Commission  should  be  confined 
to  a  Jurisdiction  over  the  Clergy  alone  ;  and  so  it  now 
stands." 

This  document  bears  no  date,  but  is  endorsed  as 
follows  :  "  True  state  of  the  Bp.  of  London's  Jurisdic- 
tion in  the  Plantations."  Both  before  and  after  the 
settlement    of   this    question   now   raised,   the   Bishop, 


64  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

under  his  own  Commission,  appointed  Commissaries, 
but  they  could  not  consecrate  churches  or  burial-grounds, 
confirm  children,  or  ordain  ministers.  The  Commissary, 
therefore,  was  far  from  being  efficient  as  a  substitute  for 
the  distant  Diocesan. 

A  draft  letter  to  the  clergy  of  Virginia,  from  the 
Bishop  of  London,  to  be  forwarded  by  the  Commissary  : 

"  Revd.  Brethren, 

"  It  is  always  a  joy  to  me  to  hear  of  the  good 
success  of  your  Ministerial  labours,  and  no  less  a  grief  to 
hear  of  any  defaults  and  irregularities  among  you,  to  which 
disadvantageous  reports  I  am  not  forward  to  give  credit, 
finding  that  wrong  representations  are  frequently  made. 

"  Nevertheless  I  cannot  but  give  you  notice  that  I 
have  information  of  some  irregularities  which  if  prac- 
tised will  need  very  much  to  be  redressed  and  I  cannot 
but  hope  if  such  things  there  be,  you  will  not  be  un- 
willing to  do  your  part  as  I  think  it  my  duty  to  do  mine 
by  this  advertisement. 

"  Whether  any  ministers  be  settled  among  you  who 
have  not  a  licence  either  from  my  predecessor  or  myself, 
I  must  leave  to  the  enquiry  of  your  governour  who  is 
instructed  in  that  case,  and  will  upon  notice  given  be 
ready  to  act  accordingly,  as  also  in  reference  to  institu- 
tions and  inductions  :  at  least  I  must  hope  by  his  care 
and  yours  none  will  be  suffered  to  officiate  in  the  public 
worship  of  God  or  perform  any  ministerial  offices  of 
religion  but  such  only  as  are  episcopally  ordained.  And 
from  all  such  I  cannot  but  expect  a  regular  conformity 
to  the  established  liturgy  from  which  none  of  us  can 
depart  without  violating  the  solemn  promise  we  made 
at  our  ordination. 

"  I  have  desired  Mr.  Commissary  to  communicate  this 
to  you  and  as  I  hope  he  will  use  all  fitting  earnestness  in 


ECCLESIASTICAL  JURISDICTION  6$ 

pressing  the  observation  of  these  things,  so  I  doubt  not 
he  will  be  able  to  procure  a  redress  of  these  or  any  other 
disorders  in  the  worship  of  God,  when  the  same  shall 
come  to  his  knowledge." 

A  draft  letter  to  the  Commissary  in  the  handwriting 
of  the  Bishop  of  London,*  will  show  their  relationship 
clearly  :  it  is  probably  the  letter  sent  with  the  foregoing 
circular  letter  : 

"  Revd.  Brother, 

"  You  will  find  in  the  enclosed  the  reason  I  have 
for  writing  it,  and  will  I  doubt  not  agree  in  opinion  with 
me  that  it  cannot  but  be  useful  to  put  the  clergy  under 
you  in  mind  of  their  duty  even  tho  :  there  should  be  no 
failing,  much  more  if  there  be  any. 

"  I  therefore  desire  you  to  communicate  this  letter  to 
them  and  to  use  all  proper  means  to  redress  any  deviations 
from  our  rule  considering  that  both  you  and  I  are  to  be 
answerable  if  we  neglect  our  duty  in  that  part. 

"  I  have  wrote  to  the  Governour  and  intreated  him  to 
give  you  all  proper  countenance  and  assistance  in  these 
matters  and  am  persuaded  he  will  be  ready  so  to  do  upon 
any  application  you  may  have  occasion  to  make  to  him. 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  from  you  what  vacant 
churches  are  in  your  parts,  to  the  end  I  may  use  my 
best  endeavours  to  procure  you  a  supply. 

"  Aug.  6,  1718.     To  Mr  Com  :  Blair." 

Thanks  to  the  King  and  the  Bishop  for  Church 
Furniture. 
"  May  it  please  your  Lordship, 

u  This  church  having  received  the  bounty  of  our 
gracious  sovereign  in  Plate  and  utensils  and  ornaments 
*  Bishop  John  Robinson,  1714-1723, 

5 


66  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

we  think  ourselves  obliged  not  only  to  acknowledge  the 
fountain  of  so  great  a  benefaction  but  also  look  to  the 
means  and  channels  of  its  conveyance  to  us  :  for  which 
reason  we  now  on  behalf  of  ourselves  and  of  this  church 
do  present  our  most  dutiful  and  thankful  acknowledge- 
ments to  your  lordship  for  the  great  and  abundant  pains 
you  have  taken  in  it  as  well  as  for  the  many  advantages 
which  we  in  common  with  all  the  British  churches  here 
do  owe  to  your  lordships  vigilance  and  your  wise  and 
tender  conduct :  and  we  hope  by  a  persevering  unfeigned 
loyalty  to  our  most  gracious  sovereign,  a  profound  venera- 
tion and  cheerful  obedience  to  your  lordship  and  a  peaceful 
regular  conduct  among  ourselves  to  preserve  his  Majestys 
and  your  lordships  favour  and  indulgence  to  us. 
"  (Signed)    Timothy  Cutler, 

incumbent  of  Christ  church, 
William  Price,  Henry  Laughton, 

John  Hooton,  John  Rachell, 

George  Monk,  Thomas  Cannington, 

Wm.  Patten,  Robert  Jarvis, 

Edward  Stanbridge,       Robert  Harris. 

"  Boston  in  New  England, 
Oct.  the  4th,  1733." 

The  care  with  which  candidates  for  ordination  were 
selected  is  shown  by  a  testimonial  for  Mr.  Matthews 
signed  by  James  "M.  Fontaine,  minister  of  Petsworth, 
Gloucester  County,  March  21,  1764  ;  and  from  John 
Dixon,  Rector  of  Kingston  in  Virginia ;  William  Robin- 
son, King  and  Queen  County,  Virginia."  Letters  testi- 
monial were  signed  by  "  William  Yates,  Richard  Graham, 
Emmanuel  Jones,  W.  Small,  and  by  James  Horrocks," 
William  and  Mary  College,  January  23,  1764. 

Mr.  B.  Porteus,  dating  from  Lambeth  House,  May  22, 
1764,  recommends  Mr.  Matthews  of  Virginia  for  ordina- 
tion, enclosing  the  following  letters,  testimonial,  etc.  : 


ECCLESIASTICAL  JURISDICTION  67 

11  John,  the  son  of  John  Matthews  and  Dorothy  his 
wife,  was  born  December  13th,  1739. 

11  John  Fox." 

Copy  from  the  baptismal  register  book  of  Ware  Parish, 
taken  by  John  Fox,  minister  of  the  said  parish  ": 

M  Ware  Parish,  Gloucester, 

"  County  Virginia, 

"  March  22nd,  1764. 

"  This  is  to  certify  all  whom  it  may  concern  that  I 
have  been  acquainted  with  Mr.  Matthews  from  the  time 
of  his  infancy  to  the  date  hereof  that  I  know  him  to  be 
extremely  modest  remarkably  sober  pious  and  religious 
free  from  every  reigning  vice  and  of  an  unexceptionable 
life  and  conversation  and  is  in  my  opinion  wTorthy  of 
being  admitted  into  holy  orders.  I  should  be  wanting 
in  christian  charity  as  well  as  common  justice  to  the 
merit  of  this  young  man  not  to  pray  for  his  success  in 
this  present  laudable  undertaking  and  therefore  I  hope 
God  Almighty  will  give  a  blessing  to  it. 

11  John  Fox, 
"  Minister  of  the  Parish  aforesaid/* 

A  "  John  Mathews  "  received  the  Royal  bounty,  and 
went  to  Virginia,  July  II,  1764  ;  this  may  be  the  same 
person. 

The  following  masterly  letter  shows  that  the  Bishop 
could  speak  with  parental  severity  when  necessary,  both 
in  the  Realm  civil  and  ecclesiastical. 

"  My  Lords,  "  FuLHAM>  *4  /«**.  1759- 

"  I  have  considered  the  Act  from  Virginia  referred 
to  me.  It  seems  to  be  the  work  of  men  conscious  to 
themselves  that  they  were  doing  wrong,  for  tho'  it  is 
very  well  known  that  the  intention  of  the  act  is  to 
abridge  the  maintenance  of  the  clergy,  yet  the  framers 

5—2 


6$  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

of  the  act  have  studiously  avoided  naming  them  or 
properly  describing  them  throughout  the  act  so  that  it 
may  be  doubted  whether  in  a  legal  construction  they 
are  included  or  no. 

"  But  to  take  the  act  as  they  meant  it  and  as  every- 
body understands  it,  we  must  consider  first  by  what 
authority  the  assembly  acted  in  preparing  such  a  law  ; 
and  in  the  next  place,  how  consistent  the  provisions  of 
the  said  Act  are  with  justice  and  equity. 

"  The  subject  matter  of  this  Act  as  far  as  the  clergy 
are  concerned  was  settled  before  by  Act  of  Assembly 
which  Act  had  the  Royal  assent  and  confirmation  and 
could  not  be  repealed  by  a  less  power  than  made  it. 
And  to  make  an  Act  to  suspend  the  operations  of  the 
Royal  Act  is  an  attempt  which  in  some  times  would 
have  been  called  Treason  and  I  do  not  know  any  other 
name  for  it  in  our  Law.     If  they  had  brought  in  an  Act 
of  Repeal  to  take  place  from  the  time  they  could  obtain 
the  King's  assent  to  the  said  Act  of  Repeal  they  would 
have  been  blameless.     But  to  assume  a  power  to  bind 
the  King's  hands  and  to  say  how  far  his  power  shall  go 
and  where  it  shall  stop  is  such  an  Act  of  Supremacy  as 
is  inconsistent  with  the  dignity  of  the  Crown  of  England 
and  manifestly  tends  to  draw  the  people  of  the  Planta- 
tions from  their  allegiance  to  the  King,  when  they  find 
that  they  have  higher  power  to  protect  them,  whether 
or  no  such  an  effect  has  been  produced  I  know  not,  but 
surely  it  is  time  to  look  about  us  and  to  consider  their 
several  steps  lately  taken  to  the  diminution  of  the  Pre- 
rogative and  influence  of  the  Crown. 

"  Lately  taken  I  say  because  within  a  very  few  years 
past  Virginia  was  a  very  orderly  and  well  regulated  Colony, 
And  lived  in  submission  to  the  power  set  over  them,  they 
were  all  members  of  the  Church  of  England  and  no  dis- 


ECCLESIASTICAL  JURISDICTION  69 

senters  amongst  them,  the  clergy  were  respected  and 
well  used  by  the  people  ;  but  these  days  are  over  and 
they  seem  to  have  nothing  more  at  heart  then  to  lessen 
the  influence  of  the  Crown  and  the  maintenance  of  the 
clergy,  both  which  ends  will  be  effectually  served  by  this 
Act  under  consideration.  It  was  not  till  the  year  1748 
that  this  spirit  began  to  show7  itself  at  which  time  an 
Act  of  Assembly  pass'd  by  which  the  Patronage  of  all 
Livings  in  the  Colony  were  taken  from  the  Crown  and 
given  to  the  Vestry  in  the  several  Parishes.  And  yet 
this  Act  received  the  Royal  Assent  upon  what  induce- 
ment I  know  not,  but  it  is  observable  that  the  Assembly 
did  not  care  to  attack  the  rights  of  the  Crown  and  the 
clergy  at  the  same  time,  and  therefore  in  the  same  Act 
of  1748  there  is  the  strongest  confirmation  of  the  clergy's 
right  to  their  full  proportion  of  Tobacco  without  any 
diminution  whatever  ;  which  provision  was  meant  to 
silence  these  complaints  of  the  clergy  against  the  other 
part  of  the  act,  And  reason  they  had  to  complain  when 
instead  of  the  Royal  authority  they  were  put  under  the 
power  of  the  Vestry  and  made  subject  to  the  humours 
of  the  people. 

"  That  no  good  was  finally  intended  to  the  clergy  is 
manifest  from  hence  that  no  sooner  were  they  in  pos- 
session of  the  patronage  but  they  wanted  also  to  be 
absolute  masters  of  the  maintenance  of  the  clergy  in 
which  attempt  they  proceeded  warily  and  endeavoured 
to  bring  in  their  scheme  by  degrees  and  accordingly  in 
the  year  1755  the  two  counties  of  Princess  Anne  and  Nor- 
folk were  deprived  of  their  tobacco  and  forced  to  accept 
a  compensation  in  money  very  much  to  their  loss.  The 
same  year  produced  a  general  act  but  a  temporary  one, 
and  was  followed  by  a  very  extraordinary  resolution  of 
the  Council.    The  case  was  this,   the  Assembly  had 


7o  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

passed  the  act  ;  When  it  came  to  the  Governour  for  his 
consent  he  boggled  at  it,  and  for  his  own  security  thought 
proper  to  advise  with  the  Council  that  is  with  the  very 
persons  who  had  been  the  promoters  of  it,  he  tells  them 
that  he  apprehended  it  interfered  with  a  Law  confirmed 
by  his  Majesty  in  regard  to  the  allowance  provided  for 
the  clergy. 

"  Here  the  case  is  fully  stated  it  is  admitted  that  the 
maintenance  of  the  clergy  had  the  King's  confirmation 
and  that  the  Governour  was  by  his  instructions  restrained 
from  altering  it,  but  it  seems  the  Act  confirmed  by  the 
King  appointed  16,000  lb.  of  Tobacco  to  each  man  the 
Act  upon  which  their  advice  wras  asked  took  no  notice 
of  the  quantam  of  Tobacco  allowed  to  the  clergy  but 
made  it  subject  to  a  composition  in  money  which  was 
to  be  rated  by  the  very  persons  who  were  liable  to  the 
payment  of  the  wThole.  Upon  this  circumstance  the 
Council  gave  their  judgement  and  declare  it  was  the 
opinion  of  the  Board  that  this  Bill  was  not  contradictory 
to  that  Law  inasmuch  as  it  by  no  means  lessened  the 
quantity  of  Tobacco  allowed  to  the  clergy  but  only 
ascertained  the  price  thereof  to  be  paid  in  money  for 
all  dues  as  well  to  officers  as  the  clergy. 

"  This  declaration  is  a  formal  judgement  in  the  case 
stated  between  the  Authority  of  the  Crown,  and  the 
power  of  the  Assembly  ;  and  subjected  the  Laws  estab- 
lished by  the  Royal  assent  to  be  altered  corrected  or 
suspended  by  a  vote  of  the  assembly. 

"  The  Lieutenant  Governour  wanted  something  of  an 
excuse  for  what  he  was  strongly  inclined  to  do,  and  a  very 
sad  one  they  furnished  him  with ;  what  made  him  so 
zealous  in  this  cause  I  pretend  not  to  judge  but  surely 
the  great  change  which  manifestly  appears  in  the  temper 
and  disposition  of  the  people  of  this  colony  in  the 
compass  of  a  few  years  deserves  highly  to  be  considered, 


ECCLESIASTICAL  JURISDICTION  71 

and  the  more  so  as  the  Deputy  Governours  and  the 
Council  seemed  to  act  in  concert  with  the  people,  to 
lend  their  authority  to  support  their  unreasonable 
demands,  and  one  would  think  upon  consideration  of 
some  late  transactions  there,  that  the  Deputy  Gover- 
nours thought  themselves  obliged  upon  their  first 
entrance  to  make  a  present  to  the  Vestry  of  the  main- 
tenance of  the  clergy,  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Bishop  and 
the  Supremacy  of  the  Crown. 

"  As  to  the  want  of  justice  and  equity  shewed  in  this 
bill  to  the  clergy  the  case  is  too  plain  to  admit  of  an}7 
reflections  upon  it,  and  if  the  crown  does  not  or  cannot 
support  itself  in  so  plain  a  case  as  is  before  us,  it  would 
be  in  vain  for  the  clergy  to  plead  the  Act  confirmed  by 
the  King  ;  for  their  right  must  stand  or  fall  with  the 
authority  of  the  Crown. 

"  My  Lords, 
"  Your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

"  T.  L. 

"  To  the  right  lion,  the  Lords 
Commissioners  of  Trade." 

(The  letter  is  in  the  handwriting  of  Bishop  Sherlock.) 

A  Missionary's  Plea. 
"  May  it  please  your  Lordship, 

"  At  the  request  of  the  gentlemen  of  this  place  I 
make  bold  to  inform  your  lordship  of  a  large  folio  Bible, 
Common  Prayer  book,  and  Book  of  Homilies,  a  Chalice 
and  a  carpet  for  the  Communion  Table,  and  a  border 
for  the  pulpit  (which  were,  as  I  am  informed,  the  gift 
of  Queen  Anne  to  this  Church  and  were  ordered  by  the 
right  rev.  the  late  lord  Bishop  of  London  to  Stratford 
in  Connecticut  Colony,  there  being  at  that  time  no 
minister  here).  Now  that  the  truly  worthy  society 
have  been  pleased  to  appoint  me  to  this  cure  the  other 


72  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

place  being  destitute  of  a  minister  They  humbly  desire 
your  Lordship  to  give  orders  that  they  may  be  returned 
to  them  again. 

"  I  have  given  the  hon.  society  an  account  of  the  state 
of  Narraganset  in  my  last  letter  which  I  doubt  not  ere 
now  is  communicated  to  your  lordship  would  not  there- 
fore be  troublesome  to  your  lordship  upon  that  head  : 
I  shall  only  presume  to  mention 

"This — viz.,  That  the  gentlemen  of  authority  in  this 
Government  are  all  of  them  of  a  different  opinion  from 
me  and  that  consequently  little  favour  and  encourage- 
ment can  be  expected  from  them.  And  not  only  so  ; 
but  that  there  are  a  very  small  number  who  are  members 
of  the  Church  of  England  here,  and  those  too  incapable 
at  present  of  settling  any  allowance  for  the  subsistence 
of  a  minister ;  who  indeed  have  willingly  contributed  to 
lay  in  part  of  my  winters  provisions  which  is  the  utmost 
they  are  capable  to  do  ;  yet  a  continuance  even  of  that 
cannot  be  expected  from  them  so  that  my  dependence 
must  be  upon  the  hon.  society  at  least  for  some  time  for 
a  sufficient  maintenance.  In  the  interim  I  trust  by  the 
blessing  of  God  I  shall  be  able  to  advance  the  interests 
of  religion  in  this  country ;  I  humbly  crave  your  lordships 
blessing  and  beg  that  I  may  be  favoured  by  a  few  hints 
for  my  direction  and  conduct  in  the  premises  and  in  what- 
ever else  maybe  thought  proper  and  subscribe  myself,  &c, 

11  William  Guy. 
"  Narraganset, 

Dec.  the  17th,  1717." 

William  Guy,  received  the  Royal  Bounty,  January  23, 
1711,  as  schoolmaster,  South  Carolina. 

William  Guy,  clerk,  New  York,  received  the  Bounty, 
June  26, 1705 ;  the  letter  is  probably  from  this  William 
Guy. 


<£ 


ft.  1  jz 


QUEEN    ELIZABETH  :    THE    QUEEN    WHO    NAMED    THE 
COLONY   VIRGINIA. 

From  a  Deed. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  JURISDICTION  7} 

Application  for  Gifts  to  the  Church  at  Boston. 
14  May  it  please  your  Lordship, 

"  The  late  gift  of  his  present  Majesty  to  the  other 
church  in  this  Town,  called  his  Majesty's  chapel,  of  Plate, 
and  Utensils  for  the  Altar,  a  Bible,  Prayer  Books,  &c, 
by  the  hands  and  at  the  desire  of  his  excellency  Jon, 
Belcher  esq.,  Governour,  from  whose  goodness  and  kind 
assurances  we  promise  ourselves  all  the  favours  lying 
in  his  power ;  emboldens  this  application  to  your  Lord- 
ship for  your  interest  with  our  most  gracious  Sovereign 
for  the  like  Benevolence  towards  this  Church  in  an 
infant  state,  and  so  reduced  by  the  late  costly  building 
of  an  house  for  Divine  worship  that  we  are  uncapable 
to  expend  so  much  for  anything  ornamental  to  it, 
which  we  presume,  would  be  much  to  our  advantage  in 
a  town  so  noted,  and  of  such  show,  as  this  is.  Your 
Lordships  relation  to  us,  under  which  we  are  so  happy 
and  your  tenderness  for  all  our  interests  will  forgive 
this  motion  in  all  humility  presented  by,  &c, 
"  Timothy  Cutler, 

minister  of  Christ  Church, 
George  Monk     \  ri.      i        j 
William  Pattix  }  Church  wardens' 
William  Price 
Henry  Laughton 
George  Skinner 
Edward  Stanbridge 
John  Hooton  ^  Vestrymen. 

John  Howard 
Robert  Temple 
Robert  Harris 
Thos.  Cunnington 
M  Boston,  New  England, 
Ngv.  18,  1730." 

Dr.  Timothy  Cutler  received  the  Bounty,  June  28, 
1723.     He  was  born  at  Charlestown,  1683. 


74  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

The  Experience  of  the  Commissary  suggests 

an  "  Archbishop  of  the  New  World." 

"  New  York, 
"My  Lord,  "Nov.  io,  1738. 

"  The  execution  of  the  Commissaries  office  from 
the  beginning  has  been  attended  with  expense  and  a 
great  deal  of  care  and  trouble  and  vexation  with  ill- 
natured  and  ungrateful  returns,  yet  I  am  not  quite 
discouraged  but  while  I  have  the  honour  to  sustain  that 
office  shall  persevere  in  the  faithful  discharge  of  it  not 
fearing  to  represent  persons  and  things  in  truth  and 
uprightness  and  though  I  should  be  so  unhappy  as  not 
to  have  my  conduct  approved  by  the  Chair  and  Board 
through  the  misrepresentations  of  my  enemies  yet  I 
trust  I  shall  find  a  favourable  acceptance  with  God 
who  tries  the  hearts. 

11  I  am  glad  your  lordship  has  received  our  letters  and 
papers  relating  to  Marriages  by  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
that  you  have  judged  it  a  great  irregularity  that  ought 
immediately  to  be  reformed,  and  I  heartily  wish  it  may 
be  done  without  in  that  way  you  proposed  by  sending 
a  new  instruction  to  every  Governour  on  that  head. 

"  The  hon.  society  in  their  letters  to  the  clergy  seemed 
to  doubt  as  to  the  matters  of  fact  contained  in  our  repre- 
sentation, therefore  in  answer  we  sent  sufficient  proofs 
under  the  seal  of  the  Notary  public  which  I  transmitted 
open  to  your  lordship  for  your  perusal  and  correction,  as 
it  was  my  duty  in  an  affair  of  that  moment  that  nearly 
concerned  the  honour  and  interest  of  the  clergy  :  and  we 
humbly  intreat  your  Lordship  to  assist  in  redressing  this 
grievance  which  we  have  many  years  endured  though  we 
have  often  complained  of  it  but  hitherto  without  effect. 

"  We  heartily  wish  that  by  the  good  providence  of  God 
your  Lordship  may  be  appointed  archbishop  of  this  new 


ECCLESIASTICAL  JURISDICTION  75 

world,  the  continent  of  America  and  the  islands  adjacent, 
and  invested  with  authority  and  a  fullness  of  power  to 
send  Bishops  among  us ;  this  will  be  but  a  just  reward 
for  your  good  works  and  for  what  you  have  done  and 
suffered  in  the  cause  of  Christianity  and  defence  of  our 
constitution  and  would  exceedingly  advance  the  dignity 
and  interest  of  the  British  Crown  and  the  peace  and 
prosperity  of  our  holy  church  through  the  British 
dominions  to  this  end  and  purpose  I  shall  willingly  join 
with  my  brethren  in  a  petition  for  a  Bishop  but  not 
otherwise  without  your  command  :  however  I  shall  in 
a  proper  season  communicate  to  Mr.  Johnson  minister  of 
Connecticut  your  lordships  sentiments  relating  to  a 
Bishop  and  will  leave  him  and  the  clergy  of  that  colony 
to  act  as  they  please. 

11  The  missionaries  of  the  society  are  indeed  under 
your  Lordships  jurisdiction  and  subject  to  your  censures 
but  as  I  have  received  your  instructions  I  will  not 
prosecute  anyone  for  immorality  or  neglect  of  duty 
without  first  acquainting  that  venerable  body  with  his 
behaviour  by  a  letter  to  go  to  them  through  your  hands. 

"  I  beg  interest  in  your  prayers  and  benedictions  and 
remain  "Will:  Vesey. 

"  Mr.  Nichollson  postmaster  has  promised  to  take 
effectual  care  of  the  letters  directed  to  the  rev.  Mr.  Holt 
in  Maryland." 

(This  paper  is  much  dilapidated.) 

An  Archbishop  of  British  America. 

James  Macsparran,  of  Narraganset,  colony  of  Rhode 
Island,  etc.,  in  New  England,  March  26,  1751,  writes  : 

"  When  I  was  in  England  in  1737  the  late  Lord  of 
London  put  his  scheme  for  Plantation  Bishops  into  my 
hands  with  leave  to  transcribe  and  correct  it.     I  thanked 


76  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

his  lordship  for  the  first,  and  took  a  copy,  but  excused 
myself  from  correcting  what  had  passed  from  so  great  a 
hand.  In  conversation  however  I  gave  it  as  my  opinion 
to  his  lordship  that  the  best  way  to  promote  episcopacy 
and  pure  religion  in  the  Plantations  was  for  his  majesty 
to  erect  them  into  an  archiepiscopal  province  and  to 
make  the  Bishop  of  London  for  the  time  being  Arch- 
bishop of  British  America  :  that  that  archbishop  should 
constitute  four  suffragans  under  him  at  first  upon  the 
foot  of  the  statute  of  the  26th  of  Henry  8th  or  that 
statute  extended  and  adapted  to  the  purpose.  Less 
than  four  would  with  no  kind  of  convenience  answer  all 
the  ends  of  episcopacy  to  the  American  churches.  It 
would  be  an  insuperable  difficulty  considering  the  trade 
winds  for  one  Bishop  to  do  his  duty  in  islands  dispersed 
at  such  distances  and  an  extent  of  1,600  miles  on  the 
mainland  would  render  one  Bishops  travel  impracticable 
and  any  access  to  him  harder  than  it  is  now  to  the 
Bishop  of  London/ ' 

Churchmen  desire  Toleration. 
To  the  right  reverend  Father  in  God  Richard  Lord  Bishop 
of  London.      The  humble  address  of  the  Clergy  of 
New  Jersey  with  some  of  their  Brethren  in  the  adjacent 
provinces  met  in  convention. 
u  May  it  please  your  Lordship, 

"  To  permit  us  with  the  most  sincere  congratu- 
lations to  express  the  deep  sense  we  have  of  the  goodness 
of  Divine  providence  in  advancing  your  lordship  to  the 
see  of  London  :  an  event  which  affords  us  the  highest 
satisfaction  when  we  consider  the  amiable  and  excellent 
character  your  Lordship  has  ever  sustained.  We  flatter 
ourselves  that  the  countenance  and  protection  that  the 
clergy  in  these  remote  parts  have  hitherto  happily 
experienced  from  your  lordships  worthy  predecessors 


ECCLESIASTICAL  JURISDICTION  77 

will  be  continued  to  us  and  that  we  shall  soon  feel  the 
salutary  effects  of  your  influence  and  paternal  affection. 
"  With  humble  submission  we  beg  leave  to  observe 
to  your  Lordship  that  while  the  Dissenters  of  different 
denominations  among  us  enjoy  the  full  exercise  of  their 
religious  discipline  the  Church  of  England  in  these  parts 
labours  under  the  unhappy  disadvantage  of  being 
deprived  of  several  essential  rights,  the  full  enjoyment 
of  which  we  trust  your  lordship  under  God  will  be 
happily  instrumental  in  procuring  to  us. 

M  That  your  Lordship  may  long  continue  to  be  a  blessing 
to  the  Church  of  God  here  and  enjoy  consummate  and 
eternal  felicity  hereafter  are  the  ardent  prayers  of 
M  Your  Lordships  most  obedient  and  dutiful  sons 
"William  Smith,  President  of  the  Convention  and 
Provost  of  the  College  of  Philadelphia. 
Richard  Charlton,  Missionary  for  Staten  island. 
Isaac  Browne,  rector  of  Trinity  church,  Newark. 
Colin  Campbell,  rector  of  St.  Marys,  Burlington. 
Samuel  Auchmuty,  rector  of  Trinity  church  in 

the  city  of  New  York. 
Hugh  Neill,  missionary  of  Oxford. 
Samuel  Cooke,  missionary   for  the  county   of 

Monmouth. 
Samuel  Seabury,  rector  of  Grace  church,  Jamaica, 

Long  Island. 
Thomas  B.  Chandler,  wmsiVwary  at  Elizabeth  town. 
Robert  McKean,  missionary  at  Perth  Amboy. 
John  Milner,  missionary  at  West  Chester. 
Andrew  Morton>  missionary  at  Amwell. 
Agur  Treadwell,  missionary  at  Trenton  and 

Maidenhead. 
Leo  Cutting,  rector  of  Christ  Church  in  New 
Brunswick. 

"  Perth  Amboy, 

Sep.  20,  1764." 


7  8  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

The  Commissary  of  the  Bishop  was  an  interesting  and 
important  person.  He  sent  forth  orders  headed  "  .  .  .by 
Divine  permission  Lord  Bishop  of  London,"  having 
appointed  me  Commissary,  etc.  Dr.  Bray  was  one  of  the 
most  celebrated  Commissaries  ;  his  appointment  has  not 
been  found,  but  it  was  doubtless  similar  to  the  following  : 

M  Edmund  by  divine  permission  Bishop  of  London  to 
our  beloved  in  Christ  William  Dawson,  Greeting  we 
do  by  these  presents  Give  and  grant  to  you  in  whose 
learning  and  fidelity  we  fully  confide  full  power  and 
authority  to  exercise  spiritual  and  ecclesiastical  juris- 
diction within  the  Colony  of  Virginia  in  America  accord- 
ing to  the  tenour  of  a  Commission  of  his  Majesty  King 
George  the  second  under  his  great  seal  bearing  date  the 
29th  day  of  April  in  the  first  year  of  his  reign  and  no 
otherwise  or  in  any  other  manner  :  and  we  do  hereby 
make  and  constitute  you  our  commissary  during  pleasure 
for  the  purposes  of  the  said  commission  contained  and  no 
other.  In  witness  whereof  we  have  caused  our  episcopal 
seal  to  be  hereunto  affixed  this  18  day  of  July  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty-three 
and  in  the  twenty-first  of  our  translation. 
"  signed  and  sealed, 

"  1743."  "  Edmund  London. 

The  Commissaries  acted  in  a  truly  Apostolic  manner  ; 
they  called  the  clergy  together  into  Synod,  with  the 
sanction  and  often  with  the  presence  of  the  Governour. 

They  held  a  service  in  church,  when  the  chief  men 
were  present.  Service  was  performed  and  the  Holy 
Sacrament  administered  with  a  sermon,  and  then  the 
clergy  adjourned  for  refreshment  and  the  roll-call. 
Sometimes  the  Synod  occupied  a  couple  of  days,  and 
extensive  reports  were  forwarded  to  the  Bishop. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  JURISDICTION  79 

The  Letters  of  Orders  of  all  the  clergy  were  examined, 
and  in  one  case  a  pathetic  letter  was  written  by  an  old 
clergyman  too  ill  to  attend,  suggesting  that  some  one 
might  go  round  to  inspect  the  Letters  of  Orders,  as  a 
journey  of  a  hundred  miles  was  no  light  matter. 

The  Commissary's  charge  was  then  delivered,  wherein 
attention  was  called  to  faults,  or  suggested  improve- 
ments in  the  method  or  the  matter  of  the  missionary's 
work,  the  Synod  was  then  over,  and  its  members  were 
dismissed  into  the  wilderness. 

The  following  document  is  not  dated,  but  it  helped  the 
formation  of  those  societies  which  have  since  done  so 
much  for  the  work  of  the  Church.  It  was  the  practical 
idea  of  Commissary  Bray,  and  is  most  likely  in  his  own 
handwriting.  The  original  was  taken  to  America  by 
the  Bishop  of  London. 

"  A   General   Plan   of   the  Constitution    of   the 
Desired  Congregation,  Pro  Propaganda  Fide 
and  Moribus  Christians. " 
By  Dr.  Bray. 

"  First,  That  it  consist  of  Members  whereof  two 
Thirds  sor  le  of  the  most  eminent  of  the  London  clergy, 
as  also  some  of  those  of  the  Chief  est  Note  in  the  Uni- 
versities, and  other  parts  of  the  Kingdom  ;  one  Third  to 
consist  of  such  Gentlemen  of  the  Laity,  as  are  eminent 
for  their  worth  and  affection  to  the  Church  of  England. 
And  amongst  the  former  that  the  Chaplains  of  the  Lord 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  the  Lord  Bishop  of 
London  be  always  standing  members,  and  that  the 
Ld.  Bp.  of  London  for  the  time  Being  be  the  standing 
President,  and  have  a  Negative  in  the  Election  of  any 
other  Member. 

Secondly,  That  those  persons  be  Incorporated  as  the 


So  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

Sons  of  the  Clergy  are,  and  be  thereby  empower'd  to 
meet  and  consult,  as  often  as  there  shall  be  an  occasion, 
upon  the  best  means  and  methods  of  promoting  Religion 
and  Learning  in  any  part  of  his  Maj: ties  colonies. 

"  Thirdly  in  particular  (ist)  That  it  be  under  their 
care  to  Enquire  out  fit  and  proper  men  to  present  to  the 
Ld.  Bp.  of  London  for  the  Time  Being,  for  his  Ldps. 
Licence  to  go  Chaplains  into  the  foreign  Plantations. 
(21>)  That  they  proceed  to  perfect  the  Design  of  fixing 
Parochial  Libraries  throughout  the  Plantations,  in  order 
to  render  the  Ministers  sent  into  those  parts  Useful  and 
Serviceable  in  the  Propagation  of  Christian  Faith  and 
Manners.  (31))  That  it  be  in  their  Power  to  Allot  such 
Gratuities,  or  Pensions,  as  they  shall  think  fit,  as 
Rewards  to  those  Ministers  whom  those  who  Superintend 
the  Clergy  in  the  Several  Provinces,  shall  certify  'em  to 
have  merited  more  than  ordinary  by  their  Learning, 
Labors,  and  Successes  in  their  Ministry,  as  also  to  Allot 
what  Pension  they  shall  think  fit  to  such  Ministers  as 
shall  most  hazard  their  persons  in  attempting  the  con- 
version of  the  Native  Indians.  (4^)  That  it  be  their 
care  to  make  some  provision  for  such  of  our  Ministers 
Widows  and  children  who  are  left  Unprovided,  especially 
for  the  Widows  and  children  of  such  whose  zeale  in  con- 
verting of  Souls  occasioned  the  loss  of  life  or  goods. 
(5]y)  That  they  have  powers  to  Treat  with,  and  to  make 
presents  to  any  of  the  Indian  Princes,  in  order  to  obtain 
leave  to  plant  Schools  in  their  Indian  Towns,  or  to  use 
any  other  fit  and  proper  means  to  Instruct  the  Infidels. 
(6]y)  That  it  be  their  care  to  supply  the  Ministers  with 
Catechisms  &c.  to  dispose  of  amongst  the  Poorer  sort 
of  People,  as  also  amongst  the  Blacks  and  Native  Indian. 
And  indeed  that  they  be  empowered  to  take  any  such 
Justifiable  measures,  as  pro  re  nata,  may  appear  requisite 


ECCLESIASTICAL  JURISDICTION  81 

to  promote,  and  encourage  Christian  Knowledge  and 
Practice  both  in  Ministers  and  People. 

"  Fourthly,  To  enable  the  Congregation  pro  propa- 
ganda fide  to  discharge  these  forementioned  Trusts, 
That  they  be  empowered  by  their  Charter  to  receive 

Gifts,  Grants,  Legacies,  etc.  not  exceeding  £ ann  as 

by  the  Charter  shall  be  limited. 

"  Fifthly,  The  Better  to  Secure  a  due  Execution  of  their 
Trust,  that  the  whole  Colledge  of  Bps  be  appointed 
Visitors  of  the  said  Congregation  pro  propaganda  fide. 

"  And  Lastly  to  render  the  Congregation  fully  in- 
structed in  the  best  measures  of  carrying  on  the  Design 
of  Propagating  Christianity,  that  a  Committee  be 
appointed  of  some  eminent  Divines  to  Inspect  the  Books 
of  Men  all  Persuasions  who  have  written  on  the  subject 
of  Missions  that  so  from  a  more  perfect  Plan  which  they 
shall  be  able  to  draw,  the  Coppy  of  a  Charter  may  be 
form'd  to  be  offer'd  to  his  most  Gracious  Majesty  for 
his  Royal  Grant  and  Confirmation." 

A  Petition  to  the  Throne  for  Bishops. 
11  May  it  please  your  Lordship, 

"  The  expediency  of  Bishops  in  the  English 
American  Colonies  is  a  point  which  has  been  from  the 
very  beginning  of  this  present  century  frequently 
asserted  on  the  one  hand  and  generally  admitted  on  the 
other.  The  reasons  which  so  long  ago  made  it  expedient 
are  now  by  the  increase  of  the  country  generally  thought 
by  the  best  judges  here  to  amount  to  a  necessity.  For 
some  years  past  as  the  subject  has  been  revived  we  have 
flattered  ourselves  from  time  to  time  with  the  pleasing 
hopes  that  the  friends  and  patrons  of  the  Church  in 
addition  to  the  other  charitable  assistances  we  have 
received  from  them  would  if  needful  exert  themselves 

6 


$2  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

in  favour  of  an  American  episcopate ;  in  which  case  we  are 
unable  to  conceive  that  the  cause  should  miscarry.  But 
the  trial  we  presume  has  not  been  fairly  made  although 
much  has  been  said  and  the  disposition  of  his  majesty  has 
been  occasionally  sounded  which  is  said  to  be  favourable. 
"  We  therefore  the  clergy  of  new  Jersey  with  some 
others  of  our  brethren  from  New  York  now  met  together 
in  a  voluntary  convention,  judging  that  perhaps  petitions 
from  hence  may  be  no  improper  introduction  to  such  an 
application,  have  thought  it  an  indispensable  duty  after 
the  example  of  some  of  our  brethren  to  address  the 
Throne  imploring  for  the  Church  in  these  colonies  His 
Majesty's  gracious  relief  and  protection.  We  have  alse 
on  this  occasion  addressed  the  Arch  Bishops  of  Canter- 
bury and  York  :  after  which  we  think  it  our  duty  with 
great  submission  to  make  the  same  application  to  your 
Lordship  requesting  the  favour  of  that  influence  which 
you  so  deservedly  have  with  His  Majesty  and  his 
ministers  that  one  or  more  Bishops  may  be  speedily 
sent  to  us.  It  is  with  the  greater  freedom  and  confidence 
that  we  apply  to  your  Lordship  as  you  have  been  pleased 
publicly  to  declare  your  opinion.' ' 

"  Dartmouth  College." 
"  Whereas  a  Charter  has  been  granted  by  his  ex- 
cellency John  Went  worth  esq.  Governor  and  commander 
in  chief  in  and  over  the  province  of  New  Hampshire 
for  erecting  a  College  in  said  province  and  incorporating 
Trustees  and  officers  suitable  for  that  purpose  by  the 
name  of  Dartmouth  college  for  the  instruction  of  such 
of  the  Indian  youth  as  may  be  prevailed  upon  to  receive 
the  same  ;  and  such  others  as  shall  offer  themselves  ;  for 
which' design  considerable  gifts  and  donations  of  money 
have  been  made  in  Great  Britain  which  money  is  in  the 


ECCLESIASTICAL  JURISDICTION  83 

hands  of  Trustees  ;  who  have  voluntarily  undertaken  the 
Trust,  and  it  having  been  proposed  and  recommended 
by  his  excellency  the  Governor  to  request  and  desire 
the  said  trustees  to  add  to  their  number  the  Right 
reverend  Dr.  Richard  Terrick  Lord  Bishop  of  London  in 
order  to  render  the  design  of  the  most  extensive  utility  : 
we  the  Trustees  in  America  approve  of  the  said  proposal, 
and  hereby  request  your  excellency  to  recommend  it  to 
and  desire  of  the  Trustees  in  Great  Britain  to  invite  and 
join  the  said  Bishop  of  London  to  the  said  trust  and 
concerns  of  the  said  college  Where  and  What  his  excel- 
lency will  be  pleased  to  write  to  the  said  Bishop  informing 
him  of  the  scheme  or  plan  of  a  college  and  praying  him 
to  accept  of  that  trust. 

"  Eleazer  Wheelock, 

Theodore  Atkinson. 

Daniel  Peirce. 

George  Jeffry,  councillors  of  the  province  of 
New  Hampshire  appointed  by  his  Majesty's 
mandamus. 

Peter  Gilman,  speaker  of  the  house  of  Assembly 
in  the  province  of  New  Hampshire. 

Benjn.  Pomeroy^ 

James  Lockwood  \dissenting   ministers    in    the 

William  Patten  |     colony  of  Connecticut. 

John  Smalley     J 

Timothy    Pitkin,    councillor    of     Connecticut 
elective. 

u  Portsmouth  in  New  Hampshire, 
"14  December,  1769. 

A  true  copy  examined  and  compared  by  J.  Whitworth. 
Endorsed,  "  Governor  Wentworth's  appointment  of  the 
Bishop  of  London  as  a  trustee  of  the  new  College  in 
Connecticut  declined/ ' 

6-2 


IV 

THE  MISSIONARY 

nr^HE  work  of  the  King  of  England  and  His  Majesty's 
I  Governour  in  the  colony  which  has  been  already 
outlined  showed  the  practical  and  business-like 
part  of  the  work  of  building  up  a  colony.  We  are  thus 
prepared  for,  and  enabled  to  understand,  something  of 
the  Bishop  of  London's  labour  on  behalf  of  its  spiritual 
welfare.  We  next  proceed  to  trace  the  shadow  of  the 
missionary.  The  necessary  preliminaries  are,  it  is  to  be 
presumed,  all  gone  through  satisfactorily,  and  the  mis- 
sionary is  almost  ready  to  sail,  but  there  is  one  business 
detail  which  the  care  of  that  age  more  regarded  than 
we  do  in  modern  times.  That  was  to  supply  the  labourer 
with  his  passage  money.  In  case  he  failed  in  his  engage- 
ment, the  following  bond,  of  which  there  are  a  large 
number  in  the  palace,  is  chosen  as  an  illustration.  The 
missionary  in  this  case  was  for  Maryland,  and  he  received 
the  King's  bounty  January  24,  1748,  about  a  week  after 
signing  the  bond.     The  Deed  is — 

Stamped  with  Three  Sixpenny  Stamps  (1748). 

"  Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  we  Alexander 
Adams,  clerk  and  I  William  Hamilton,  of  the  Parish  of 
St.  George  Botolph  lane  London  Merchant,  are  held  and 
firmly  bound  to  the  right  reverend  Thomas  Lord  Bishop 
of  London  in  the  sum  of  forty  pounds  of  good  and  lawful 
money  of  great  Britain,  to  be  paid  to  the  said  Lord 
Bishop  or  his  certain  attorney,  executors,  administrators, 

84 


THE  MISSIONARY  85 

or  assignes  for  the  true  payment  wherof  we  bind  our- 
selves and  each  of  us  by  himself  our  and  each  of  our 
heirs  executors  and  administrators,  for  the  whole  and 
every  part  thereof  firmly,  by  these  presents  sealed  with 
our  seals,  dated  this  sixteenth  day  of  January,  in  the 
twenty-second  year  of  our  sovereign  lord  King  George 
the  second,  by  the  grace  of  God,  of  Great  Britain  France 
and  Ireland  King,  defender  of  the  faith,  and  so  forth, 
and  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  forty-eight. 

"  Whereas  the  above  bounden  Alexander  Adams  is 
by  the  said  Bishop  of  London  licensed  to  perform  the 
minsterial  office  in  Somerset  county  in  the  province  of 
Maryland  in  America,  and  hath  received  his  Majesty's 
bounty  of  twenty  pounds  to  defray  the  charge  of  his 
passage  thither  now  the  condition  of  this  obligation 
is  such  That  if  the  said  Alexander  Adams  do  and  shall 
within  three  months  from  the  date  of  these  presents 
cause  himself  to  be  conveyed  in  some  ship  or  vessel  to 
the  province  of  Maryland  aforesaid  to  perform  the  office 
of  a  minister  there  :  or  in  default  thereof  do  and  shall 
pay  or  cause  to  be  paid  unto  the  said  Lord  Bishop  the 
said  sum  of  twenty  pounds,  Then  this  obligation  be 
void  and  of  none  effect ;  but  if  default  shall  be  made  in 
the  conditions  aforesaid  or  either  of  them  contrary  to 
the  form  above  limited,  then  it  shall  stand  and  remain 
in  full  force. 

''Alexander  Adams  (l.su 
"  William  Hamilton  (l&) 

"  Sealed  and  delivered  (being  first  duly  stampt)  by 
the  said  Alex'r  Adams,  and  William  Hamilton  in  the 
presence  of 

Cath.  Woodstock,  Wm.  Lovegrove." 


86  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

After  this  the  missionary  proceeded  on  the  voyage. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  make  a  connected  story  of  the 
voyage  out.  We  are  obliged  to  take  a  patchwork  of 
small  details,  and  try  to  piece  them  together,  for  the 
correspondents  then,  as  now,  always  took  too  much  for 
granted,  and  imagined  that  we  knew,  at  this  side  of  the 
Atlantic,  what  they  went  through ;  and  neglected  the 
particulars  which  add  so  much  to  the  interest  when  the 
traveller  is  thoughtful  enough  to  relate  them. 

One  of  the  last  things  on  shore  was  a  visit  to  the 
Bishop's  house  at  Fulham,  and  after  sharing  the  Bishop's 
hospitality,  and  receiving  his  episcopal  blessing,  the  mis- 
sionary went  on  board. 

Several  times  we  find  that  they  had  to  put  back,  or 
put  into  some  port,  because  the  ship  had  sprung  a  leak, 
or  the  weather  was  too  bad  for  her  sailing  capacity. 
Sometimes  there  would  be  troops  or  officers  going  to 
the  colony,  sometimes  pleasant  companions,  sometimes 
the  reverse  for  the  missionary. 

We  can  in  imagination  follow  the  young  missionary 
crossing  the  ocean,  feeling  very  lonely,  and  perhaps  afraid 
lest  he  had  mistaken  his  vocation  when  he  faced  the 
perils  of  the  deep.  Occasionally  there  were  tricks 
played  upon  him;  sometimes  his  hammock  was  cut  down. 
These,  and  the  various  pranks  which  men  in  all  times 
play  when  they  are  on  the  deep,  would  be  trials  to  the 
solitary  missionary. 

Then  there  were  the  Algerian  pirates.  So  serious  were 
these  that  special  instructions  were  given  to  the 
Governours  how  they  were  to  endeavour  to  suppress 
piracy.  When  the  round  shot  came  tumbling  over  the 
waves,  the  missionary's  heart  might  well  shrink  for  his 
own  safety  as  well  as  that  of  the  ship.  Icebergs  too  were 
common,  and  sometimes  the  chill  hand  of  famine  was 


THE  MISSIONARY  87 

felt,  for  we  find  a  ship  had  "  to  run  into  such  a  port  as 
the  provisions  were  gone.,, 

Then,  when  the  ship  reached  the  distant  land,  the 
missionary's  first  task  was  to  present  himself  to  the 
Governour,  and  occasionally  he  did  not  make  a  favourable 
impression  on  him.  Then  the  minister  must  be  insti- 
tuted to  his  living  by  the  Governour,  as  that  part  of  the 
episcopal  function  had  been  delegated  to  him.  and  if  the 
vestry  did  not  like  the  missionary,  it  might  go  so  far, 
and  make  him  so  uncomfortable  as  to  compel  him  to 
petition  for  removal  to  a  more  acceptable  quarter,  or  a 
place  where  his  ministrations  would  be  more  welcome. 

When  the  missionary  was  at  last  settled  in  his  new 
home,  he  went  to  minister  in  a  church  something  like 
the  following,  which  is  dated  1722. 

Afterwards  he  had  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  his 
congregation  and  his  parish.  The  former  would  be  the 
settlers  from  England,  and  the  latter  would  embrace 
foreigners  and  slaves. 

His  parish  might  be  anything  from  twenty  to  a  hundred 
miles  square,  and  most  of  his  work  had  to  be  done  on 
horseback,  which  involved  tedious  journeys  and  some- 
times considerable  perils.  The  woods  might  conceal  red- 
skins ,  and  the  redskin  did  not  always  appreciate  the  coming 
of  the  white  man,  as  he  felt  it  meant  his  own  expulsion. 

Then  there  was  the  emigrant  or  planter.  In  Virginia 
he  was  generally  a  Churchman,  and  it  might  be  a  man 
who  came  of  a  good  family  in  England.  His  morals 
seem  to  have  been  indifferent,  and  his  life  was  likely 
enough  to  be  occasionally  rather  wild  and  adventurous. 
In  Virginia  the  country  was  suited  to  large  plantations 
of  tobacco,  and  slaves  were  employed,  although  at  first 
they  do  not  appear  to  have  been  very  numerous. 

The  planter  paid  the  clergy  in  tobacco,  and  this  had 


88  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

to  be  sold  and  turned  into  money.  Here  the  missionary 
was  open  to  make  the  worst  of  the  bargain,  and  seems 
to  have  suffered  from  it. 

An  Appreciation  of  Virginia. 

A  missionary  writes  : 

"  As  to  Virginia,  to  my  taste  it  is  a  very  fine  country, 
and  wants  nothing  but  industry  and  arts  to  make  it  very 
flourishing  :  there  is  plenty  of  all  provision  very  reason- 
able. Wheat  is  sold  where  I  live  for  two  shillings  per 
bushel,  Indian  corn  and  oats  for  one,  Beef  and  Pork  at 
ten  shillings  per  hundred. 

"  In  short  there  is  nothing  necessary  for  human  life 
but  this  country  would  produce  ;  In  general  it  is  healthy 
and  pleasant.  People  of  all  ranks  are  very  hospitable 
which  with  a  vivace  sprightliness  observable  in  almost 
every  face  bespeak  them  strangers  to  pinching  want  and 
oppression." 

Some  of  the  work  of  the  missionary  in  making  the 
history  of  English  Plantations  may  be  discovered  from 
the  following  copies  of  MSS.  in  Fulham  Palace  : 

Queries  by  the  Bishop  of  London,  to  be  answered 
by  every  Minister. 

"  How  long  is  it  since  you  went  over  to  the  Planta- 
tions as  a  Missionary  ? 

"  (Ans.)  Five  years  and  eight  months. 

"  Have  you  had  any  other  Church,  before  you  came 
to  that  wrhich  you  now  possess ;  and,  if  you  had, 
what  Church  was  it,  and  how  long  have  you  been 
removed  ? 

"  I  had  2,  at  different  times.  The  first  was  Hungars, 
on  the  Eastern  shore,  from  which  I  have  been  removed 
4  years  and  ten  months,  to  Norfolk  Parish  being  the 


THE  MISSIONARY  89 

second  from  when  I  have  been  removed  to  this  Parish 
three  years  and  ten  months. 

"  Have  you  been  duly  Licens'd  by  the  Bishop  of 
London  to  officiate  as  a  Minister  in  the  Government 
where  you  now  are  ? 

"  I  was  licens'd  by  the  late  Bishop  of  London  to 
officiate  in  this  Government  Oct.  7th,  1718. 

"  How  long  have  you  been  Inducted  into  your 
living  ? 

"  I  have  not  been  inducted  ;  it  not  being  customary  ; 
the  Governour's  recommendatory  Letter  and  the  Parish's 
compliance  hath  hitherto  been  the  method. 

"  Are  you  ordinarily  resident  in  the  Parish  to  which 
you  have  been  Inducted  ? 

"  I  constantly  reside  in  my  Parish. 

"  Of  what  extent  is  your  Parish,  and  how  many 
families  are  there  in  it  ? 

"  It  is  about  50  miles  in  circumference,  and  there  are 
about  350  families. 

"  Are  there  any  infidels,  bond  or  free,  within  your 
Parish  ;  and  what  means  are  used  for  their  conversion  ? 

"  There  are  many  infidels  tho'  very  few  free  ;  The 
owners  are  generally  careful  to  instruct  those  that  are 
capable  of  instruction  and  to  bring  them  to  Baptism  : 
but  it  is  impossible  to  instruct  those  that  are  grown  up, 
before  they  are  carried  from  their  own  country,  they 
never  being  able  either  to  speak  or  understand  our 
language  perfectly. 

"  How  oft  is  divine  Service  performed  in  your  Church  ? 
And  what  Proportion  of  the  Parishioners  attend  it  ? 

"  Divine  Service  is  performed  in  my  Church  every 
Sunday  and  on  some  of  the  Fasts  and  Festivals  ;  and 
most  of  the  Parishioners  attend  it,  there  being  very  few 
Dissenters  in  this  Parish. 


90  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

"  How  oft  is  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
administered  ?  And  what  is  the  usual  number  of 
Communicants  ? 

"  The  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  administered 
three  times  in  the  year  (viz.)  on  Easter  day,  Whitsunday 
and  Christmas  day,  and  there  are  commonly  ioo  com- 
municants. 

"  At  what  times  do  you  catechise  the  youth  of  your 
Parish  ? 

"  I  catechise  the  youth  of  my  Parish  only  in  Lent. 

"  Are  all  things  disposed  and  provided  in  the  Church 
for  the  decent  and  orderly  performance  of  divine  Service  ? 

"  All  things  are  pretty  well  disposed  and  provided. 

"  Of  what  value  is  your  living  in  Sterling  money, 
and  how  does  it  arise  ? 

M  The  value  is  uncertain  according  as  tobacco  rises 
or  falls  in  price,  but  I  do  reckon  it  ciirrentibiis  Minis 
worth  £65  sterling.  It  arises  by  an  assessment  on  the 
Parish  of  sixteen  thousand  pounds  of  tobacco  being  the 
legal  salary,  whereof  every  tythable  person  pays  an 
equal  proportion,  and  it  is  collected  by  the  Church- 
wardens. 

u  Have  you  a  House  and  Glebe  ?  Is  your  Glebe  in 
Lease,  or  let  by  the  year  ?  or  is  it  occupied  by  yourself  ? 

"  I  have  a  house  and  Glebe,  and  the  Glebe  is  occupied 
by  myself. 

11  Is  due  care  taken  to  preserve  your  house  in  good 
repair  ?     And  at  whose  Expence  is  it  done  ? 

"  Due  care  is  taken  to  preserve  my  house  in  repair  at 
the  Parish's  expence. 

"  Have  you  more  cures  than  one  ?     If  you  have,  what 
are  they  ?     And  in  what  manner  served  ? 
"  I  have  but  only  the  cure  of  this  Parish. 
u  Have  you  in  your  Parish  any  public  school  for  the 


THE  MISSIONARY  91 

instruction   of  youth  ?     If  you  have,  is  it   endowed  ? 
And  who  is  the  Master  ? 

"  There  are  two  public  schools  endowed,  tho'  very 
meanly,  whereof  John  Mason  and  Abram  Parisano  are 
[word  indistinct,  ?  masters].  There  is  also  a  very  good 
private  school  where  besides  reading  arithmetic  and 
writing,  Latin  and  Greek  are  very  well  taught  whereof 
William  Fyfe  a  man  of  good  life  is  Master. 

"  Have  you  a  Parochial  Library  ?  It  you  have, 
are  the  books  preserved  and  kept  in  good  condition  ? 
Have  you  any  particular  Rules  and  Orders  observ'd  ? 

"  There  is  no  Parochial  Library  in  this  Parish,  nor  in 

any  other  in  this  Government. 

"  James  Falconer,  Minister. 

"  Virginia,  Elizabeth  City  Parish, 
May  27,   1724." 

We  can  look  into  the  little  Parochial  Library  in 
Virginia  in  17 10,  from — 

A  Catalogue  of  the  Parochial  Library  at  Mani- 
c anton,  on  James  River,  in  Her  Majesty's  Colony 
of  Virginia  (No.   53),   1710. 

Shelf  1  : 

Bishop  Reynold's  "  Works  "  (London,  1679)    - 
"  Divi  Cypriani  Opera  "  (Paris,  1616)   - 
"  The  Book  of  Homilies  "  (Oxford,  1683) 
"  The    Book   of   Common    Prayer  "    (London, 

1709)  -  -  -  -  -0120 

Archbishop    Tillotson's     "  Works  "     (London, 

1707)  -  -  -  -  -     o   18     o 

Bishop  Sanderson's  "  Sermons,"  eighth  edition 

(London,  1689)        "  ~  ~  -0120 

Allen,  "  On  Faith  "        -  -         f "#Tbo,?d    } 

Kettlewell's    "Practical    Believer  "1  (Lond°n>  \  °     8     ° 

I     1/03)    J 
Dr.  Bray's  "Lectures  on    ye   Cate-  r   bound    "| 

chism  "  -  J  (London,  [  o   10     o 

Allen,  "  On  ye  2  covenants  "      -  1703)    J 

Bishop   Taylor's    "  Life   of   Christ  "    (London, 

1657)  -  -  -  -  -     o   12     o 


£ 

5. 

d. 

1 

1 

6 

0 

6 

0 

0 

1 

0 

92 


THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 


Shelf  i  [continued):  £    s.    d. 

Dr.  Pococke's  "  Commentary  on  Joel  M  (Oxford, 

1691)  ----- 

Cambridge  "  Concordance  "  (Cambridge,  1692) 
"  The  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Eusebius,  etc." 

(London,  1650)        - 
Bishop  Usher's  "  Body  of  Divinity  M  (London, 

1658)  

M  A  Review  of  the  Council  of  Trent  "  (Oxford, 

1638)  ----- 


Shelf  2  : 

Bishop  Hopkins,  "  On  the  Lord's  Prayer  " 
(London,  1692)         --.'-- 

14  A  common  place  Book  on  the  H.  Bible  " 
(London, 1697)        - 

"  Lactantii  opera  a  Tho.  Spark  "  (Oxford,  1694) 

Nelson's  "  Feasts  and  Fasts  of  the  Church  of 
England  "  (London,  1707) 

Dr.  Lucas's  "  Sermons,"  in  2  vols.,  eighth 
edition  (London,  1702)        - 

Dr.  Hick's  "  Letters,  etc."  (London,  1705) 

Gastrell's  "  Christian  Institutes  "  (London, 
1707)  ----- 

Gastrell's  "  Certainty  of  the  Christian  Revela- 
tions "  (London,  1699)        - 

Gastrell's  "  Certainty  and  Necessity  of  Reli- 
gion "  (London,  1697)         - 

Dr.  Scott's  "  Sermons,"  in  2  vols.,  eighth 
edition  (London,  1698,  1700) 

Dr.  Blackhall's  "  Sermons  on  Several  Occa- 
sions," second  edition  (London,  1706) 

"  Concerning  ye  H.  Scriptr  by  ye  auth  w.  Duty 
of  man  "  (Oxford,  1678)     - 

Bishop  Burnet's  "  Pastoral  Care  "  (London, 
1692)  ----- 

Camfield,  "  Of  Angels  "  (London,  1678) 

Spinckes's  "  Trust  in  God  "      f         bound        \ 

Worthington's  "Resignation  "\(London,  1696)/ 

Bonnel's  "  Life  "  (London,  1707) 

"  The  Art  of  Contentment,"  by  the  author  of 

"  The  Whole  Duty  of  Man  "(Oxford,  1675)     °     1     ° 

"  The  Government  of  the  Tongue,"  by  the 
author  of  '*  The  Whole  Duty  of  Man  " 
(Oxford,  1675)  -  -  -  -010 


0 

4 

0 

0 

12 

0 

0 

6 

0 

0 

3 

0 

0 

2 

0 

£6 

10 

6 

0 

4 

6 

0 

3 

0 

0 

4 

0 

0 

5 

0 

0 

7 

0 

0 

3 

6 

0 

3 

0 

0 

0 

6 

0 

2 

0 

0 

7 

0 

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0 

1 

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0 

2 

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2 

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0 

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0 

0 

2 

6 

-    o 

I 

0 

-    o 

I 

6 

)    o 

I 

6 

-     o 

I 

0 

-     o 

O 

9 

■     o 

I 

3 

£3 

6 

6 

6 

10 

6 

3 

6 

6 

1 

0 

0 

£™~ 

17 

0 

THE  MISSIONARY  93 

5/; 5//  2  (continued) :  £    s.   d. 

Bishop  Wilkins'  "  Gift  of  Preaching  "  (London, 

1699)  - 

"  The  Whole  Duty  of  Man  "  (London,  1686) 
"  Thomas  a  Kempis,"  in  English  (London,  1701 ) 
Harrison's    "  Exposition    of    ye    Church    Cate 

chism  "  (London,  1708) 
Herbert's  "  Country  Parson  "  (London,  1652) 
"  Vincentii    Lirinensis    Comonitorium  "    (Cam- 
bridge, 1687)  - 


Shelf  1 
Shelf  2 
Case  and  incident  charges 


"  Received  the  within  mentioned  parochial  library 
into  my  custody  which  I  promise  to  take  care  of  pursuant 
to  the  rules  prescribed  by  the  act  of  Parliament  for  the 
better  preservation  of  Parochial  libraries  and  the  rules 
of  the  founders  which  are  or  shall  be  made  Witness  my 
hand  this  14th  day  of  October,  1710. 

"  John  Cairon. 
' '  In  presence  of 

Henry  Newman, 
P.  W.  Roe." 

A  Missionary  to  the  Bishop. 

"  Right  reverend  Father  in  God, 

"  I  received  your  lordship's  blessing  in  May, 
1735,  and  by  bad  weather  we  were  obliged  to  go  up  to 
Maryland,  and  from  thence  five  weeks  after  I  came  to 
Williamsburg,  and  was  kindly  received  by  our  Gover- 
nour  and  Mr.  Commissary  Blair. 

"  I  got  immediately  a  Parish  which  I  served  nine 
months  ;  but  hearing  that  a  frontier  Parish  was  vacant, 
and  that  the  people  of  the  mountains  had  never  seen 


94  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

a  clergyman  since  they  were  settled  there,  I  desired  the 
Governour's  consent  to  leave  an  easy  Parish  for  this  I 
now  serve. 

"  I  have  three  churches,  23  and  24  miles  from  the 
glebe  in  which  I  officiate  every  third  Sunday.  And 
besides  these  three  I  have  seven  places  of  service  up 
in  the  mountains  where  the  clarks  read  Prayer  (4  clarks 
in  the  seven  places).  I  go  twice  a  year  to  preach  in 
twelve  places,  which  I  reckon  better  than  400  miles 
backwards  and  forwards,  and  foard  nineteen  times  the 
south  and  north  rivers. 

"  I  have  taken  four  trips  already,  and  the  twentieth 
instant  I  go  up  again.  In  my  first  journey  I  baptised 
White  people  229  :  Blacks  172  :  Quakers  15  :  Anabap- 
tists 2,  and  of  the  white  people  there  were  baptised  from 
20  to  26  years  of  age  4  ;  from  12  to  20,  36  ;  and  from 
eight  to  twelve  years  of  age  189. 

"  I  found  at  my  first  coming  into  this  Parish  but  six 
persons  that  received  the  sacrament  which  my  prede- 
cessors never  administered  but  in  the  Lower  church,  and 
blessed  be  God  I  have  now  136  that  receive  twice  a  year, 
and  in  the  lower  part  three  times  a  year,  which  fills  my 
heart  with  joy  and  makes  all  my  pains  and  fatigues  very 
agreeable  to  me. 

1 '  I  struggle  writh  many  difficulties  from  Quakers  who 
are  countenanced  by  high-minded  men  :  but  I  wrestle 
with  wickedness  in  high  places  and  the  Lord  gives  me 
utterance  to  speak  boldly  as  I  ought  to  speak.  I  find 
that  my  strength  faileth  me  but  I  hope  the  Lord  will  be 
my  strength  and  helper,  that  I  may  fight  a  good  fight 
and  finish  my  course  in  the  ministry  which  is  given  to  me 
to  fulfil  the  word  of  God. 

11  There  is  a  thing  that  grieves  my  heart,  viz.  to  see 
episcopacy  so  little  regarded  in  this  colony,  and  the 


THE  MISSIONARY  95 

cognizance  of  spiritual  affairs  left  to  the  Governour  and 
councill  by  the  laws  of  this  colony.  And  next  this  it 
gives  me  a  good  deal  of  uneasiness  to  see  the  greatest 
part  of  our  brethren  taken  up  in  farming  and  buying 
slaves  which  in  my  humble  opinion  is  unlawful  for  any 
christian  and  particular  for  a  clergyman,  by  this  the 
souls  committed  to  their  charge  must  suffer,  and  this 
evil  cannot  be  redressed  for  want  of  a  yearly  convocation 
which  has  not  been  called  for  ten  years  past. 

11  The  rev.  Mr.  Blair  I  really  believe  is  a  good  man 
and  has  been  a  good  minister,  but  he  cannot  act  in  his 
commission  as  it  is  required,  and  I  have  always  wished 
that  your  lordship  would  send  as  a  deputy  commissaiy 
a  clergyman  of  known  zeal,  courage  and  resolution,  and 
such  as  could  redress  some  great  neglects  of  duty  in 
our  brethren,  and  bring  Episcopacy  to  be  better  regarded  ; 
for  even  some  of  the  clergymen,  born  and  educated  in 
this  colony  are  guilty  in  this  great  point. 

"  Pardon  my  lord  these  my  open  expressions. 

"  I  think  myself  obliged  in  conscience  to  acquaint 
your  lordship  with  these  evils  in  hopes  that  God  would 
direct  you  to  prevent  them  in  some  measure  ;  for  tlio' 
I  know  how  things  go  with  us  in  this  world  we  do  not 
know  what  shall  become  of  us  in  the  next. 

14  And  that  God  bless,  and  preserve  your  Lordship 
and  grant  plenteousness  to  your  family  is,  has  been,  and 
shall  be  the  daily  prayer  of, 

11  My  lord,  your  lordship's  most  humble  and  sub- 
missive servant  and  son  in  Christ, 

11  Anthony  Gavin. 

"  From  St.  James's  Parish,  Goochland, 

August  5,  1738. " 

The  following  gives  the  views  of  a  returned  missionary 
as  to  England's  responsibilities  : 


96  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

Bishops  in  America. 

A  discourse  showing  how  requisite  it  is  to  encourage  learn- 
ing and  religion  and  episcopal  church  government  in 
the  English  Plantations,  and  that  this  is  no  way 
inconsistent  with  the  interest  of  Great  Britain. 

The  discourse  begins  by  referring  to  the  ages  of 
ignorance,  and  compares  them  with  the  age  which 
encouraged  learning,  and  then  adds  : 

"  The  Church  of  Rome  has  found  so  much  benefit  from 
it  that  they  do  now  not  only  equal  but  outdo  their 
adversaries  in  that  sort  of  zeal  and  industry.  Especially 
in  the  plantations  there  is  no  comparison  between  them 
and  us  of  the  Church  of  England  :  their  zeal  and  our 
coldness  and  indifferency  in  religion  being  equally  re- 
markable. To  say  nothing  of  their  fine  churches  com- 
pared with  our  poor  wooden  tabernacles,  built  at  the 
planters'  own  charge,  and  their  well-endowed  monas- 
teries, and  nunneries,  for  the  education  of  both  males 
and  females,  let  us  compare  their  care  in  providing 
priests  and  bishops  in  their  plantations  with  our  almost 
entire  neglect  of  all  those  affairs,  both  of  education  and 
pastoral  care  :  leaving  it  only  to  some  chance  raw  young 
divines,  for  the  most  part  driven  by  necessity,  rather 
than  starve  in  their  own  country,  to  go  and  seek  for 
a  precarious  livelihood  in  our  foreign  plantations  : 

"  Some  employ  their  wit  and  parts  to  discourage  the , 
spreading  of  learning  religion  and  episcopal  government 
in  the  plantations  only  on  a  principle  of  humane  policy, 
as  if  religion,  learning,  and  episcopal  government  in  our 
plantations  would  prove  prejudicial  to  the  religious  or 
civil  interests  of  the  mother  church  and  country  of 
England  and  make  them  too  wise  to  be  submissive  and 
obedient. 


id  ^Gt««4  rrfttu  . 

]  -.  'f'nttxx  . 

■  (Ten  ».£  &Gc<:to^|B 
|  cmpfctti  ttuuctj 


EDWARD    VI. 
From  a  Deed  at  Fulham  Palace. 


THE  MISSIONARY  97 

"  Irreligion  ignorance  and  want  of  church  govern- 
ment are  unchristian. 

"  That  supposing  these  ways  of  politics  were  lawful 
they  are  utterly  improper  for  answering  the  pretended 
ends  ;  and  that  good  education  good  ministers  and  good 
bishops  are  more  likely  to  keep  the  plantations  in  good 
order  and  in  due  subjection  to  England. 

"  That  the  plantations  are  no  way  formidable  ;  and 
that  considering  the  English  spirits  of  their  inhabitants, 
they  are  much  more  likely  to  be  kept  to  their  duty  to 
England,  by  kind,  than  by  unkind  usage. 

"  That  upon  an  even  balance  of  what  England  will 
get  or  lose  by  encouraging  these  things  and  the  colonies 
lose  by  the  want  of  them. 

"  The  illustration  of  Julian  the  apostate  shutting 
up  the  Christian  schools  is  next  used,  and  the  late 
French  king's  making  conversions  to  the  church,  by  all 
the  severities  of  dragooning.  But  it  may  be  answered 
we  are  willing  they  should  learn  to  read  write  and  cast 
accounts,  but  for  classics  and  divinity  let  them  send 
their  children  to  England,  and  as  for  Bishops  if  there 
be  any  occasion  for  such  an  ecclesiastical  officer,  let 
them  be  put  under  the  Bishop  of  London,  or  any  other 
English  bishop  that  has  less  business.  It  was  never 
pretended  before  that  religion  and  church  government 
were  local  things. 

u  The  church  of  England,  though  she  has  stoutly  main- 
tained the  cause  of  episcopacy  as  being  divine  and  apos- 
tolic, when  they  come  to  constitute  new  churches  for 
themselves  they  can  let  them  be  without  Bishops,  with- 
out any  order  or  government  except  what  lay  vestries 
are  pleased  to  appoint.  They  may  dispute  and  wxite 
as  much  as  they  please,  but  while  all  the  world  sees, 
their  actions  they  will  be  ready  to  conclude  themselves 

7 


98  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

it  is  a  jest  to  say  we  are  for  a  bishop  in  the  plantations, 
but  such  a  one  as  shall  live  in  England  3  or  4,000  miles 
from  his  diocese.  Everybody  knows  it  is  impossible  a 
Bishop  at  that  distance  can  discharge  his  episcopal  func- 
tion if  it  be  said  all  this  can  be  done  by  a  commissary  or 
suffragan  :  if  a  suffragan  then  the  point  is  yielded,  for  a 
suffragan  has  an  episcopal  power,  and  can  not  only  take 
inspection  of  the  clergy  but  consecrate  churches  and 
confirm  and  ordain,  and  while  there  is  no  power  of  ordina- 
tion in  those  countries  it  is  morally  impossible  but  that 
great  many  of  their  churches  must  be  destitute  of 
ministers  or  those  that  go  so  few  that  are  well  furnished 
with  books,  and  other  qualifications  and  improvements 
for  the  ministerial  function.  Whereas  in  primitive  times 
they  appointed  Bishops  in  all  the  churches  that  they 
gathered  who  were  to  be  watchful,  to  ordain,  not  only 
in  every  country  but  in  every  city.  This  present  policy 
is  contrary  to  the  rules  for  governing  the  church  that 
were  set  down  by  Christ  and  his  apostles  and  therefore 
unchristian  and  unlawful. 

"II.  Of  all  sects  of  Christianity  there  is  none  more 
dutiful  to  Government  than  the  church  of  England,  by 
education  and  instruction  by  good  schools,  and  good 
ministers  and  Bishops,  all  tied  to  the  King  of  great 
Britain  by  oaths  of  allegiance  and  supremacy.  To  take 
an  example,  which  in  America  are  the  most  peaceable, 
and  most  useful  subjects  ?  whether  the  people  of  Vir- 
ginia, for  example,  who  have  been  pretty  carefully 
educated  according  to  the  principles  of  the  Church  of 
England,  or  their  neighbours  of  north  Carolina  who 
seldom  have  any  minister  among  them,  and  conse- 
quently grow  up  not  only  very  immoral  in  their  lives, 
but  extreme  turbulent,  and  rebellious  to  their  governours. 
How  many  of  them  have  they  seized  and  clapt  into 


THE  MISSIONARY  99 

prison  ;  and  how  hard  a  thing  it  is  to  have  any  other 
law,  but  club  law,  put  in  execution  in  such  an  unin- 
structed  country. 

11  If  keeping  them  in  ignorance  will  not  do,  there  is 
another  way,  that  of  a  large  standing  force. 

"  I.  The  English  plantations  are  not  formidable  but 
weak  and  inconsiderable  if  compared  with  England. 

"2.  That  they  are  not  factious  and  rebellious  neither 
in  their  temper  nor  principles. 

11  3.  But  they  cannot  subsist  of  themselves  without  the 
assistance  and  protection  of  some  other  potent  nation. 

11  4.  That  they  are  sensible  that  they  cannot  be  so 
happy  under  the  protection  of  any  other  nation,  as  they 
are  under  the  protection  of  the  English. 

"  Whoever  has  seen  both,  will  understand  the  first 
point,  how  thin  their  countrys  are  seated,  what  a  hand- 
ful of  people  they  contain,  not  so  many  in  a  whole 
country  as  in  one  county  in  England.  How  hardly  they 
are  forced  to  work,  for  supplying  the  bare  necessaries 
of  life,  how  their  countries  afford  but  a  small  part  of 
the  necessaries  requisite  for  a  bare  subsistence ;  in  short 
they  have  all  the  signs  of  a  poor  laborious  people,  work- 
ing hard  for  a  livelihood  and  none  at  all  of  a  rich  magnifi- 
cent or  formidable  people  in  the  world. 

"  As  to  their  principles  they  know  nothing  but  obedi- 
ence to  their  sovereign  and  respect  the  laws  and 
parliaments,  preferring  the  English  to  any  other  consti- 
tution :  and  thinking  themselves  happy  to  be  governed 
by  it. 

"  All  this  with  the  many  good  exhortations  from  their 
church  clergy  to  Humility,  meekness,  patience,  and 
peaceableness  and  instructions  from  the  crown  restrain- 
ing the  exorbitances  of  their  rulers.  And  for  their 
tempers,  as  they  are  neither  sowered  with  superstition, 

7—2 


ioo  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

nor  fanaticism,  they  are  not  easily  rifled  and  discom- 
posed ;  when  they  were  ill-used  they  murmured,  and 
petitioned,  and  got  redress.  As  they  are  a  governable, 
good-natured  people  so  their  interest  ties  them  to  be 
contented,  they  cannot  support  themselves,  left  in  their 
weak  infant  circumstances  they  would  be  an  easy  prey 
to  Spain,  France,  the  Dutch,  or  any  of  the  other  poten- 
tates of  Europe.  Nay  it  is  more  than  possible  if  there 
were  no  English  men  of  war  to  defend  their  trade  and 
coasts  and  harbours  they  would  be  exposed  to  the  daily 
insults  of  pyrats  (sic)y  who  in  such  case  would  find  it 
their  interest  to  plunder,  in  great  gangs,  those  open  and 
defenceless  countries. 

"  They  know  also  that  they  could  not  be  as  easy,  under 
any  other  protection,  as  they  are  under  that  of  England, 
from  the  goodness  of  the  constitution,  Laws  and  govern- 
ment. They  are  wedded  to  the  church  of  England  in 
the  principles  of  which  they  and  their  forefathers  have 
been  educated  and  are  so  rooted,  in  the  sole  exercise  of 
the  English  language  traffic  and  customs  that  they  have 
no  more  notion  of  living  without  England,  than  young 
children  have  of  living  by  themselves  without  father  or 
mother.  And  though  there  are  some  things  which  look 
like  hardships,  such  as  confining  all  their  trade  to  the 
mother  country,  and  the  high  duties  on  their  commodi- 
ties, they  know  well  the  first  is  the  fate  of  all  plantations, 
and  as  to  the  last  though  the  importers  feel  them  first, 
yet  at  last  they  come  to  be  paid  by  the  consumers,  the 
inhabitants  of  great  Brittain  :  for  the  higher  duties  are 
laid  on  commodities,  they  must  be  sold  so  much  the 
dearer,  so  that  the  importer  is  no  loser  except  in  a  case 
of  Bankruptcy.  In  the  main  they  are  sensible  that 
they  are  treated  by  the  king  and  parliament  as  genuine 
subjects,  not  as  conquered  foreigners.     It  is  well  known 


THE  MISSIONARY  101 

of  English  subjects  that  they  have  a  great  sense  of 
English  liberty.' ' 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  there  is  no  trace  of  the  name 
of  the  writer,  who  speaks  from  experience,  amongst  the 
Fulham  records. 

List  of  Missionaries  in  New  England. 

Massachusetts  :  Dr.  Cutler,  Boston  ;  Mr.  Plant, 
Newbury  ;  Mr.  Miller,  Braintree  ;  Mr.  Usher,  Bristol ; 
Mr.  Caner ;  Mr.  Brockwell,  King's  Chapel,  Boston  ; 
Mr.  McGilchrist,  Salem  ;  Mr.  Thomson  ;  Mr.  Hooper,  of 
Trinity  Church  in  Boston. 

Rhode  Island  :  Mr.  Honyman,  Newport ;  Dr.  McSpar- 
ran,  Kingston,  Narragansett ;  Mr.  Checkley,  Providence. 

Connecticut :  Dr.  Johnson,  Stratford ;  Mr.  Beach,  New 
Town  ;  Mr.  Punderson,  itinerant ;  Mr.  Gibbs,  Simsbury  ; 
Mr.  Lamson,  Fairfield ;  Mr.  Graves,  New  London. 

New  Hampshire  :  Mr.  Brown. 

Request  for  a  Minister  for  Boston. 

On  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Harward,  the  following 
M  humbly  pray  your  lordship  as  soon  as  conveniently  may 
be  to  send  us  an  assistant  to  the  rev.  Mr.  Price,  the  best  for 
solid  learning  and  exemplary  piety  that  can  be  procured 
for  us,  together  with  your  pastoral  blessing  upon 
11  Your  lordship's  most  dutiful  sons  and  servants, 


"John  Read,      \  Church- 
Thomas  Child,/  wardens. 

Robert  Auchmuty, 
William  Shirley, 
John  Eastwicke, 
Geo.  Perrart, 
William  Spackman, 
"  Boston  in  New  England, 

NOV.   22,    I736." 


Job  Lewis, 
Peter  Luce, 
Thomas  Greene, 
R.  A.  Sharpe, 
John  Merritt, 
John  Gibbins, 
Edward  Syng, 
George  Shore. 


102  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

Answers  to  the  Bishop's  Questions  from  New 
England. 

"  Mablehead  in  New  England, 
April  28,  1724. 

11  David  Mossom  the  missionary  left  London, 
24th  September,  1713.     Licensed  Aug.  28th,  1718. 

The  minister  reports  that  he  had  not  been  inducted, 
and  did  not  know  the  Governour  had  power  to  induct. 

"  We  take  possession  and  hold  by  the  Bishop's  license. 

"  There  were  no  limitations  of  Parishes  but  this 
town,  which  consists  of  about  three  hundred  families, 
has  two  dissenting  meeting  houses  besides  the  church, 
there  are  belonging  to  the  church  between  seventy  and 
eighty  families. 

"  There  are  not  more  than  three  or  four  Negro  slaves 
within  my  Parish,  who  generally  come  to  Divine  worship 
with  their  masters. 

"  Services  held.  Twice  every  Lord's  day  I  preach, 
and  once  on  the  Friday  preceding  the  first  Sunday  in 
the  month,  and  on  Christmas  day,  Ash  Wednesday, 
Good  Friday,  Ascension  day,  I  preach  as  I  do  on  the 
Fast  and  thanksgiving  days  appointed  by  the  state, 
and  read  prayers  on  Holy  days.  The  generality  of  the 
Parishoners  attend  on  the  Lord's  day  when  at  home, 
for  as  it  is  a  fishing  town  the  greatest  part  of  the  men  go 
to  sea,  and  are  often  out  at  sea  upon  their  fishing  voyages 
two  or  three  months  together. 

"  I  administer  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper 
on  the  first  Sunday  in  every  month ;  the  usual  number 
of  Communicants  is  between  thirty  and  forty,  the  whole 
cometh  to  more  than  fifty. 

"  I  catechise  the  youth  every  Friday  and  Sunday  in 
Lent  and  at  the  same  time  expound  to  them. 


THE  MISSIONARY  103 

11  Our  Church  is  plain  but  neat ;  we  have  neither  pulpit 
cloth  nor  Communion  table  cloth,  only  one  small  silver 
cup  for  distributing  the  wine  at  the  sacrament,  the 
people  are  so  poor  that  they  are  not  able  to  purchase 
more,  the  Church  having  still  a  debt  of  near  two 
hundred  pounds. 

u  The  value  of  the  living  is  uncertain.  I  receive 
nothing  from  the  people,  but  the  contributions  col- 
lected after  Divine  service  on  the  Lord's  days,  at  the 
church,  most  of  which  depends  upon  strangers  ;  taken 
one  with  another  they  are  computed  between  twenty 
and  thirty  shillings,  '  this  money/  which  is  the  most 
extended  value,  and  that  does  not  amount  to  ten 
shillings  sterling. 

11  I  have  no  house  or  glebe,  but  am  obliged  to  hire 
an  house  myself,  for  which  I  pay  out  of  my  own 
pocket  £25  per  annum,  the  Parish  contributing  nothing 
to  it. 

"  There  is  a  school,  the  Master  is  a  Dissenter.  He  is 
paid  by  a  town  Rate,  and  they  will  not  admit  any  other 
for  schoolmaster  but  a  dissenter. 

"  I  have  no  Parochial  Library  :  the  societys  ten 
pounds  worth  of  books  sent  to  my  predecessor  were 
not  here  when  I  came  except  six  which  he  left,  and  those 
I  keep  in  good  order.' ' 

These  answers  are  to  the  Bishop's  questions,  and  throw 
light  on  the  conditions  of  the  Church  in  New  England. 

The  Churchwardens  and  Vestry  of  King's 
Chapel,  1739. 

"  The  Churchwardens  and  vestry  of  King's  Chap- 
pell  in  Boston  having  lately  received  notice  from  the 
rev.  Mr.  Davenport  that  he  designs  to  quit  this  chappell 


104  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

and  accept  the  Curacy  of  Trinity  Church  in  this  town, 

the  petition  for  a  successor  is  signed  by 

"  Silv.  Gardiner,  G.  Steuart, 

James  Gordon,  Charles  Paston, 

Wm.  Shirley,  John  Read, 

Em.  Hutchinson,  William  Sprackman, 

George  Craddock,        John  Gibbins, 
Peter  Fancuick,  Estes  Hatch, 

Edmd.  Tyng,  Robert  Lewis, 

Cyprian  Foulhack,  ;    R.  A.  Sibthorp. 

"  Boston, 

June  20th,  1739." 

From  Scituate,  New  England,  December,  1738,  there 
is  also  a  petition  for  a  successor  to  Mr.  Davenport,  signed 
by  Simon  Jolis  and  Jacob  Caily,  the  wardens  of  St. 
Andrews  Church  at  Scituate. 


A  Parish  Priest  without  a  Surplice. 

From  Newbury,  New  England,  the  missionary, 
Matthias  Plant,  reports  that  he  has  been  there  two 
years  :  that  there  are  about  thirty  families  in  the  parish, 
and  that  the  services  on  Sunday  are  attended  by  about 
eightscore  souls. 

The  sacrament  was  administered  every  first  Sunday, 
and  there  are  thirty-eight  communicants. 

As  to  catechising — 

"  I  found  very  few  youths  at  my  first  settlement  and 
those  very  ignorant,  so  it  is  a  melancholy  thought  to 
reflect  upon  either  the  ministers  or  parents  carelessness 
of  their  childrens  instruction  in  the  catechism,  which 
requires  a  longer  time  to  retrieve  than  I  have  been  able 
to  give  by  reason  of  my  long  sickness." 

The  church  is  not  supplied  with  a  surplice. 


THE  MISSIONARY 


10; 


A  Question  of  Patronage. 

11  My  Lord, 

11  The  unhappy  divisions  in  the  ecclesiastical 
policy  of  our  Church  increasing  thereby  the  necessity 
of  a  reapplication  to  your  lordship,  &c,  this  concerned 
the  question  of  patronage  and  was  signed  by 


u  Thomas  Phillips, 

Churchwarden. 

John  Smith, 

Alexr.  Thorpe, 

Joseph  Shepheard, 

Abraham  Wendell,  jun. 

Thomas  Selby, 

Ivory  Ferrar, 

Foxley  Sanderson, 

John  Fisher, 

Sam.  Cooper, 

Ralph  Schroder, 

James  Smith, 

Henry  Hope, 

Joseph  Winnock, 

Edward  Tothill, 

Temple  Nelson, 

Henry  Caswall, 

George  Shore, 

John  Smith, 

John  Parry, 

John  Overing, 
Boston." 


;  W.  Paxton, 
j  John  Cutler, 
1  Job  Lewis, 
|  Benj.  Atkinson, 
;  John  Powell, 
\  George  Tiley, 
;  Edmd.  Okoden, 
i  Benj.  Woodbridge, 
|  Wil.  Douglass, 
:  Thomas  Amory, 

Thos.  Lechmere, 

H.  Marshall, 

Cyprian  Southack, 

Wm.  Lambert, 

Wm.  Coffin, 

Francis  Brinley, 

Thos.  Wroe, 

robt.  auchmuty, 

John  Boydell, 

Peter  Luce, 

Rowld.  Houghton. 


Estimate  of  Population  in  1762. 
North  American  Continent. 

Newfoundland  and  Nova  Scotia 

Four  New  England  colonies  : 

New  Hampshire  f  Negroes  in  these  colonies^ 
Massachusetts  uncertain;    perhaps'^ 

Rhode  Island       "j      about   a  sixth  of   the  f 
Connecticut  I     whole  J 

Total 


25,000 

30,000 
250,000 

35,000 
120,000 

435,000 


io6 


THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 


Estimate  of  Population 

IN    1762 

(continued)  : 

Whites. 

Blacks. 

New  York 

100,000 

50,000 

New  Jersey 

100,000 

— 

Pennsylvania 

2  80,000 

25,00O 

Maryland 

60,000 

100,000 

Virginia 

80,000 

I  20,000 

North  Carolina 

36,000 

10,000 

South  Carolina 

22,000 

50,000 

Georgia 

6,000 

uncertain 

Totals            .  .          .  .  i 

,227,000 

705,000 

Comparative  View  of  the  Different  Religious  Per- 
suasions (Endorsed  Numbers  of  Church-people  in 
the  Colonies,  for  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London, 
April,   1762). 


Quakers, 

Presby- 

1   German  and 

Church- 

terians  and 

Dutch  of 

people. 

Indepen- 

Various Sects, 

dents. 

Jews,  Papists, 

etc. 

West  India  Isles 

75,000 

8,000 

Newfoundland     and     Nova 

Scotia 

13,000 

6,000 

6,000 

Four  New  England  colonies 

40,000 

250,000 

145,000 

New  York 

25,000 

20,000 

55,000 

New  Jersey 

1 6,000 

40,000 

44,000 

Pennsylvania 

25,000 

45,000 

*I70,000 

Swedes  and  German  Luther-*] 

ans  in  this   province  who 

reckon  their  service,  etc.,  r 

40,000 





the  same  as   that   of    the  1 

Church        . .          .  .          .  .  J 

Maryland 

36,000 

6,000 

ti8,ooo 

Virginia 

60,000 

10,000 

10,000 

North  Carolina 

18,000 

9,000 

9,000 

South  Carolina  and  Georgia 

20,000 

5,000 

3,000 

Totals 

368,000 

391,000 

468,000 

*  About  a  third  of  these  Quakers  ;  about  10,000  Papists  ; 
the  rest  Germans  of  various  sects, 
•j-  Chiefly  Papists. 


THE  MISSIONARY  107 

From  Dr.  Smith,  1762  (Endorsement). 

Some  General  Account  of  the  Church  in  the  British 
Colonies. 

11  Our  American  colonies  are  properly  divided  into  two 
Classes  : 

"  I.  The  Island  Colonies,  or  West  India  Isles. 

"II.  The  most  important  class  of  our  colonies  are 
those  on  the  continent  of  North  America  comprehend- 
ing an  extent  of  more  than  1,700  miles  from  North  to 
South  and  divided  into  fourteen  different  Governments 
viz.  :  Newfoundland,  Nova  Scotia,  the  Four  New 
England  Governments,  New  York,  New  Jersey, 
Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Caro- 
lina, South  Carolina,  Georgia. 

"  Newfoundland  the  Northermost  and  Georgia 
the  Southermost  are  yet  but  thinly  settled  and  have 
not  hitherto  had  more  than  one  or  two  Missionaries 
apiece. 

"  Nova  Scotia  the  second  Colony  to  the  Northward 
whose  chief  town  is  Halifax  is  also  a  young  but  very 
growing  settlement. 

"  New7  England  is  divided  into  four  Governments  : 
New  Hampshire,  Massachusets,  Rhode  Island  and 
Connecticut. 

"  The  Massachusets  is  the  chief  of  these  whose 
capital  is  Boston  a  very  large  and  populous  city.  It 
hath  a  dozen  dissenting  congregations  of  different  sorts  ; 
but  its  episcopal  churches  are  yet  only  three  at  the  head 
of  which  are  the  rev.  Dr.  Cutler,  rev.  Mr.  Caner  and  rev. 
Mr.  Hooper,  whose  congregations  are  indeed  very  large 
and  genteel.  At  New  Cambridge  a  mission  hath  been 
opened  there  by  the  rev.  Mr.  Apthorp,  an  excellent 
young  gentleman  and  of  a  considerable  family  in  Boston. 


io8  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

11  The  Governments  of  New  Hampshire  and  Rhode 
Island  are  but  small.  Portsmouth  is  the  principal 
place  in  the  former  and  Newport  in  the  latter. 

11  Connecticut  the  fourth  New  England  government 
is  very  populous  and  considerable.  It  hath  many  small 
towns  in  it,  the  chief  of  which  are  Hartford,  the  seat  of 
Government  on  Connecticut  river  ;  and  New  Haven  a 
little  lower  down  the  seat  of  Yale  college.  The  dis- 
senters reckon  their  number  of  ministers  more  than  200. 
The  Church  ministers  are  about  thirty-two,  almost 
without  exception  men  remarkable  for  their  sobriety 
diligence  and  good  life. 

"  New  York  is  the  next  Colony  to  Connecticut.  The 
capital  is  the  populous  and  flourishing  city  of  New  York, 
in  which  are  two  beautiful  churches,  viz.  Trinity  and 
St.  George's  which  is  the  chapel  of  ease  to  the  former. 
Another  chapel  is  wanted  and  will  soon  be  erected.  In 
this  city  hath  been  lately  built  a  college  which  'tis 
hoped  will  in  time  be  of  much  public  service.  The 
President  of  the  College  must  always  be  in  the  Com- 
munion of  the  Church  of  England  but  the  rest  of  the 
masters  may  be  of  any  protest  ant  denomination.  The 
rev.  Dr.  Johnson  is  the  present  president  a  gentleman 
who  has  been  40  years  in  holy  orders  above  thirty  of 
which  he  was  the  society's  faithful  missionary  at  Strat- 
ford in  Connecticut.  The  rev.  Dr.  Barclay  is  the  rector 
of  the  churches  in  this  city  which  are  the  best  endowed 
of  any  in  America.  The  number  of  episcopal  clergy  in 
this  province  is  twelve. 

"  New  Jersey  is  the  next  colony  to  the  southward 
of  New  York  being  divided  from  Pennsylvania  by  the 
great  river  Delaware.  New  Jersey  is  a  very  growing 
country.  Belonging  to  the  church  there  are  only  seven 
ministers  and  they  are  all  in  the  service  of  the  society. 


THE  MISSIONARY  109 

11  Pennsylvania.  —  This  province  contains  near 
300,000  souls  and  Philadelphia  the  chief  city  is  the 
largest  in  America  containing  about  25,000  souls.  The 
members  of  the  church  are  the  most  numerous  and 
considerable  body  in  Philadelphia  itself  and  have  three 
large  places  of  worship,  viz.  Christ  Church  ;  St.  Peter 
and  St.  Paul's.  The  rev.  Dr.  Jenny  who  died  last 
January  near  80  years  of  age  was  rector  of  the  church 
there  and  Commissary  for  former  Bishops.  The  number 
of  episcopal  ministers  in  this  great  province  is  yet  no 
more  than  twelve. 

"  Maryland. — Here  there  is  a  regular  division  into 
Parishes  which  are  about  forty  in  number,  with  an 
ample  provision  for  the  clergy.  The  generality  of  the 
clergy  in  Maryland  are  now  very  valuable  men. 

11  Virginia  has  been  already  described  by  others. 

"  North  Carolina  and  South  Carolina  will  be 
best  explained  by  the  rev.  Mr.  Martin  of  that  colony 
now  in  London. 

"  On  the  continent  of  North  America  there  are  about 
185  of  our  clergy  :  and  if  those  on  the  isles  be  added  the 
whole  may  amount  to  about  250. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  time  is  now  near  at  hand 
when  it  will  be  plainly  seen  to  be  for  the  advantage  even 
of  civil  government  to  raise  our  American  church  out  of 
this  drooping  condition.  In  the  meantime  it  may  be 
worth  inquiring  whether  any  improvement  can  be  made 
in  the  duty  and  usefulness  of  the  Commissary  as  the  only 
temporary  expedient  for  keeping  up  some  sort  of  disci- 
pline and  good  order. 

"  Suggesting  a  commissary  for  : 

"  I.  New  Hampshire,  Massachusets  and  Rhode  Island. 

"  2.  Connecticut  and  New  York  a  commissary  to 
reside  in  New  York. 


I  IO 


THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 


M  3.  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey  a  commissary  to 
reside  at  Philadelphia. 

"  4.  Maryland,  if  Lord  Baltimore  will  give  his  coun- 
tenance. 

"  5.  Virginia  at  Williamsburg. 

"  6.  North  and  South  Carolina." 


The  Seat-holders  of  King's  Chapel,  1727. 

A  true  list  of  all  the  Proprietors  of  pews  in  the  Church 
called  King's  Chapel  at  Boston  within  his  Majesty's 
province  of  the  Massachusets  bay  in  New  England 
when  the  votes  of  the  congregation  of  the  said  church 
were  passed  on  March  13,  1727,  8 

"  The  first  column  contains  a  list  of  those  proprietors 
of  pews  in  the  said  church  called  kings  chapel  who  with 
the  congregation  passed  the  above-mentioned  votes  of 
March  13th,  1727-8  : 


Richard  Coles  worthy. 
Dr.  George  Stewart. 
Captn.  James  Cornwal. 
George  Cradock. 
John  Arbuthnot. 
Gilbert  Warner. 
William  Randle. 
William  Frankly n. 
Richard  Hall. 
Thomas  Eyre. 
Philip  Briton. 
Peter  Roe. 
Lazarus  Hubbard. 
Francis  Rowlinson. 
Nathaniel  Fadry. 


Joseph  Phillips. 
Edward  Cox. 
Luke  Verdy. 
Thomas  Loyd. 
John  Reed  esq. 
Moses  Markham. 
Edward  Lock. 
George  Mayo. 
John  Hays. 
Stephen  Hays. 
John  Barnes. 
John  Gibbins. 
Joshua  Wroe. 
John  Checkley. 
Thomas  Green. 


THE  MISSIONARY 


ii  i 


Rufus  Green. 
Nathaniel  Green. 
Rowland  Dyke. 
Andrew  Halyburton. 
John  Jekyl  esq. 
Col.  Estes  Hatch. 
John  Eastwicke  esq. 
Thomas  Crease. 
Thomas  Astel. 
Samuel  Banister. 
Henry  Redding. 
James  Wright. 


Benjamin  Price. 
Richard  Quick. 
Benjamin  Dauling. 
Samuel  Grainger. 
Robert  Skinner. 
William  Speakman. 
Timothy  Crouchington. 
Edward  Carter. 
Peter  Stelling. 
Thomas  Shaw. 
John  Lambert. 
John  Pillet. 


(End  of  the  first  column.) 

11  This  second  column  contains  a  list  of  those  Pro- 
prietors of  pews  in  said  church  called  Kings  chapel  who 
were  present  at  the  meeting  of  March  13th,  1727-8,  but 
did  not  join  with  the  congregation  in  passing  the  above- 
mentioned  votes  : 


Job  Lewis. 
Dr.  John  Cutler. 
Robert  Auchmuty  esq. 
Captn.  Cyprian  Southack. 
Thomas  Phillips. 
George  Shore. 
Mathew  Nassaro. 
John  Fisher. 
Edward  Mills. 
James  Smyth. 


Francis  Bryndley. 
Thomas  Lechmere  esq. 
Captn.  Paul  Mascarine. 
John  Powell. 

Honble.  William  Tailer  esq. 
Captain  Wentworth  Pax- 
ton. 
John  Boy  dell. 
Henry  Caswal. 
Thomas  Selby. 


11  This  column  contains  a  list  of  the  remaining  Pro- 
prietors of  pews  in  said  church  called  Kings  chapel  not 
present  at  the  meeting  of  March  13th,  1727-8.     Some  in 


112 


THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 


town  others  not  in  town  or  Province  the  rest  Widows 
and  orphans  : 


John  Nelson  esq. 
James  Gordon. 
Robert  Robinson. 
Captn.  Bret. 
Gerrard  (a  rigger). 
John  Oulton  esq. 
George  Raison. 
Cap.  James  Sterling. 
Charles  Ap thorp. 
Captn.  John  Cox. 
Captn.  William  Brown. 
Captn.  Gideon  Ball. 
Peter  Fanuel. 
John  Briggs. 


pi 

y  v    j 

■5   I 


Mrs.  Myles. 

Mrs.  Mynzies. 

Mrs.  Vincent. 

Mrs.  Procter. 

Mrs.  Vibert. 

Mrs.  Cowel. 

Mrs.  Wybourn. 

Mrs.  Haywood. 

Mrs.  Robinson. 

Mrs.  Newton. 

Mrs.  Golding. 

Mrs.  Simpson. 

Kent  an  orphan. 

John  Franklyn  Cooper 


"  We  whose  names  are  underwritten  do  certify  this 
to  be  a  true  and  just  list  of  all  the  Proprietors  of  pews 
in  the  church  called  Kings  chapel  at  Boston  within  his 
Majesty's  province  of  the  Massachusets  bay  in  New 
England  and  that  they  are  truly  and  justly  Distinguished 
in  the  Preambles  over  each  column  Dated  at  Boston  in 
New  England  December  the  14th,  1728. 

''John  Eastwicke,1! 
William  RandleJ 


Churchwardens" 


"  Nathaniel  Gifford  Notary  Public  by  Royal  Authority 
duly  admitted  and  sworn  certifies  that  John  Eastwick 
and  William  Randle  are  the  Churchwardens  that  full 
faith  and  good  credit  is  sought  to  be  given  to  their 
testimony. 

(ls\         Nathaniel  Gifford,  Notary  Public" 


LETTERS  PATENT  TO  THE   BISHOP 
OF  LONDON 

Patent  i  George  II.  to  the  Bishop  of  London  for 
Ecclesiastical  Jurisdiction  in  America. 

GEORGE  THE  SECOND  by  the  grace  of  God 
King  of  Great  Britain  France  and  Ireland, 
Defender  of  the  Faith  to  the  Reverend  Father  in 
Christ  Edmund  by  divine  permission  Bishop  of  London 
greeting.  Whereas  our  Colonies,  Plantations  and  the 
rest  of  our  Dominions  in  America  are  not  yet  divided  or 
formed  or  annexed  to  any  Diocese  within  our  Kingdom 
of  Great  Britain,  by  reason  whereof  the  Jurisdiction  in 
Ecclesiastical  causes  arising  in  them  or  any  of  them 
belongs  only  to  us  as  Supreme  Head  of  the  Church  on 
earth,  and  it  has  seemed  necessary  to  us  that  henceforth 
the  spiritual  and  ecclesiastical  Jurisdiction  in  those 
regions  in  the  cases  below  mentioned  in  these  presents, 
by  our  royal  authority  according  to  the  laws  and  canons 
of  the  English  Church  lawfully  received  and  sanctioned 
within  England  should  be  instituted  and  exercised,  by 
which  the  sincere  worship  of  God  and  the  pure  profession 
of  the  Christian  religion  may  be  the  better  promoted  : 
And  whereas  our  royal  Father  George  the  First  late 
King  of  Great  Britain  etc.  by  his  letters  patent  drawn 

113  3 


ii4  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

up  under  his  great  seal  of  Great  Britain  bearing  date  at 
Westminster  the  9th  February  in  the  13th  year  of  his 
reign  gave  and  granted  to  thee  the  foresaid  Bishop  of 
London  full  power  and  authority,  by  thyself  or   thy 
sufficient  commissary  or  sufficient  commissaries  to  be 
substituted  or  named  by  thee,  to  exercise  spiritual  and 
ecclesiastical    Jurisdiction    in    the    respective    Colonies 
Plantations  and  the  rest  of  his  Dominions  in  America 
during  the  good  pleasure  of  the  said  late  King  as  by  the 
same  letters  patents  (relation  thereof  being  had)  is  more 
fully  manifest  and  apparent  :  Know  now  that  we  have 
recalled  and  de+  irmined,  and  by  these  presents  do  recall 
and  determine  the  said  recited  letters  patents  and  all 
and  everything  contained  in  the  same.     And  further 
know  that  we  in  this  behalf  very  much  trusting  in  your 
sincere  Religion  and  doctrine  and  probity  of  manners 
and  careful  circumspection  and  zeal  in  carrying  on  affairs 
of  our  special  grace  and  certain  knowledge  and  mere 
motion  have  given  and  granted  and  by  the  presents  do 
give  and  grant  to  thee  the  foresaid  Bishop  of  London  full 
power  and  authority  by  thyself  or  thy  sufficient  com- 
missary or  thy  sufficient  commissaries  by  thee  to  be  sub- 
stituted and  nominated  to  exercise  spiritual  and  ecclesi- 
astical Jurisdiction  in  the  respective  Colonies  Plantations 
and  the  rest  of  our  Dominions  in  America  according  to  the 
Laws  and  Canons  of  the  Church  of  England  lawfully 
received  and  sanctioned  within  England  in  the  special 
causes  and  matters  below  in  these  presents  expressed 
and  specified,  and  for  the  declaration  of  our  royal  will 
as  to  the  special  causes  and  matters  in  which  we  will 
the  foresaid  Jurisdiction  by  virtue  of  this  our  commission 
to  be  exercised  :  We  have  further  given  and  granted 
and  by  these  presents  do  give  and  grant  to  thee  the 
foresaid  Bishop  of  London  full  power  by  thyself  or  by 


LETTERS  PATENT  TO  BISHOP  OF  LONDON      115 

thy  sufficient  commissary  or  thy  sufficient  commissaries 
by  thee  to  be  substituted  and  nominated,  to  visit  all 
churches  in  the  Colonies  Plantations  and  the  rest  of  our 
Dominions  in  America  in  which  divine  service  according 
to  the  Rite  and  Liturgy  of  the  Anglican  Church  has  been 
celebrated  and  all  Rectors,  Curates  Ministers  and  In- 
cumbents, or  by  whatever  other  names  they  are  called, 
of  the  foresaid  churches,  and  all  priests  and  deacons 
being  in  the  sacred  Orders  of  the  English  Church  with 
all  and  all  kind  of  Jurisdiction  power  and  ecclesiastical 
coercion  required  as  to  the  premisses  and  at  whatever 
fitting  days  hours  and  places  as  often  and  whensoever 
shall  seem  the  more  suitable  and  opportune  to  thee  or 
the  commissary  or  commissaries  aforesaid,  the  foresaid 
Rectors  Curates  ministers  incumbents  priests  or  deacons 
being  in  sacred  orders  of  the  Anglican  Church  or  any  one  or 
any  of  them,  and  no  other  persons  whatsoever  before  thee 
or  the  commissary  or  commissaries  aforesaid  to  call,  and 
by  witnesses  to  be  sworn  by  thee  or  the  commissary  or 
commissaries  aforesaid  in  due  form  of  law,  and  by  other 
ways  and  lawful  means  by  which  the  better  and  more 
efficatiously  it  can  lawfully  be  done,  to  inquire  of  their 
morals,  according  to  the  laws  and  canons  of  the  Anglican 
Church  acting  in  the  matters  pertaining :  and  also  to 
administer  any  lawful  oaths  accustomed  in  Ecclesiastical 
Courts  and  to  correct  and  punish  the  aforesaid  Rectors 
Curates  Ministers  Incumbents  Priests  and  Deacons  being 
in  the  sacred  orders  of  the  English  Church  according  to 
their  demerits  either  by  removal  suspension  or  excom- 
munication or  whatsoever  other  kind  of  ecclesiastical 
censures  or  corrections  due  by  the  foresaid  ecclesiastical 
canons  and  Laws.  And  further  of  our  fuller  grace 
we  have  given  and  granted  and  by  the  presents  we  give 
and  grant  to  thee  the  foresaid  Bishop  of  London  full 

8—2 


u6  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

power  and  authority  from  time  to  time  to  nominate  and 
substitute  under  thy  hand  and  episcopal  seal  sufficient 
commissaries  to  exercise  and  carry  out  with  effect  all 
and  singular  the  premisses  in  the  several  and  respective 
Colonies  Plantations  and  foresaid  dominions  in  America 
according  to  the  tenor  and  true  intention  of  this  our 
commission  and  such  commissaries  to  remove  and  change 
from  time  to  time  as  to  thee  shall  seem  expedient.  To 
Have  and  to  enjoy  all  and  singular  the  beforesaid  powers 
and  authorities  to  thee  the  before  mentioned  Bishop  of 
London  so  long  as  it  shall  please  us.  We  will  never- 
theless and  by  the  presents  declare  and  ordain  that  it 
may  well  be  allowed  and  shall  be  allowed  to  any  person 
or  any  persons  whatsoever  against  whom  any  Judgment 
Decree  or  Sentence  by  virtue  of  this  our  commission 
shall  be  given  or  pronounced  to  appeal  from  such  Judg- 
ment Decree  or  Sentence  to  our  much  beloved  and  very 
faithful  counsellors  the  most  Reverend  Father  in  Christ 
William  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  and  the  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury  for  the  time  being,  Peter  Lord  King 
Baron  of  Ockham  our  Chancellor  of  Great  Britain  and 
our  Chancellor  of  Great  Britain  and  Keeper  of  our  Great 
Seal  of  Great  Britain  for  the  time  being,  the  most 
Reverend  Father  in  Christ  Lancelot  Archbishop  of 
York  and  the  Archbishop  of  York  for  the  time  being,  our 
High  Treasurer  of  Great  Britain  for  the  time  being, 
William  Duke  of  Devonshire  President  of  our  Privy 
Council  and  the  President  of  our  Privy  Council  for  the 
time  being,  Thomas  Lord  Trevor  Keeper  of  our  Privy 
Seal  and  the  Keeper  of  our  Privy  Seal  for  the  time  being, 
Lionel  Cranfield  Duke  of  Dorset  steward  of  our  house- 
hold and  the  Steward  of  our  Household  for  the  time 
being  Charles  Duke  of  Grafton  Chamberlain  of  our 
Household  and  the  Chamberlain  of  our  Household  for 


LETTERS  PATENT  TO  BISHOP  OF  LONDON      117 

the  time  being,  Thomas  Duke  of  Newcastle  one  of  our 
chief  Secretaries  of  State,  Thomas  Earl  of  Westmoreland 
Charles    Viscount    Townshend    another    of    our    chief 
Secretaries  of  State  and  the  Chief  Secretaries  of  State 
for  the  time  being,  George  Viscount  Torrington  chief 
commissioner  of  the  Admiralty  and  our  High  Admiral 
and  the  chief  commissioner  of  our  Admiralty  for  the  time 
being,  Arthur  Onslow   our   Speaker   of  our  House  of 
Commons  and  the  Speaker  of  our  House  of  Commons 
for  the  time  being,  Robert  Walpole  Knight  of  the  most 
noble  Order  of  the  Garter  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer 
and    First    Commissioner    of    our    Treasury    and    the 
Chancellor  of  our  Exchequer  and  first  Commissioner 
of  our  Treasury  for  the  time  being,  Robert  Raymond 
Knight  our  Chief  Justice  assigned  to  hold  the  Pleas  before 
us  and  our  Chief  Justice  assigned  to  hold  the  Pleas 
before  us  for  the  time  being,  Joseph  Jekyll  Knight  Master 
of  the  Rolls  of  our  Chancery  and  the  Master  of  the  Rolls 
of  our  Chancery  for  the  time  being,  and  Robert  Eyre 
knight  our  Chief  Justice  of  the  Common  Bench  and  our 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Common  Bench  for  the  time  being. 
To  whom  indeed  William  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  and 
the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  for  the  time  being,  Peter 
Lord  King  and  our  Chancellor  of  Great  Britain  or  Keeper 
of  the  Great  Seal  of  Great  Britain  for  the  time  being, 
Lancelot  Archbishop  of  York  and  the  Archbishop  of 
York  for  the  time  being,  our  High  Treasurer  of  Great 
Britain  for  the  time  being  William  Duke  of  Devonshire 
and  President  of  our  Privy  Council  for  the  time  being, 
Thomas  Lord  Trevor  and  Keeper  of  our  Privy  Seal  for  the 
time  being,  Lionel  Cranfield  Duke  of  Dorset  and  Steward 
of  our  Household  for  the  time  being,  Charles  Duke  of 
Grafton  and  chamberlain  of  our  Household  for  the  time 
being,  Thomas  Duke  of  Newcastle  Thomas  Earl  of  West- 


u8  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

morland  Charles  Viscount  Townshend  and  our  chief 
Secretaries  of  State  for  the  time  being,  George  Viscount 
Torrington  and  our  High  Admiral  and  chief  commis- 
sioner of  our  Admiralty  for  the  time  being,  Arthur 
Onslow  and  our  Speaker  of  our  House  of  Commons  for 
the  time  being,  Robert  Walpole  and  the  Chancellor  of 
our  Exchequer  and  First  Commissioner  of  our  Treasury 
for  the  time  being,  Robert  Raymond  and  our  Chief 
Justice  assigned  to  hold  Pleas  before  us  for  the  time  being, 
Joseph  Jekyll  and  the  Master  of  the  Rolls  of  our  Chan- 
cery for  the  time  being,  and  Robert  Eyre  and  our  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Common  Bench  for  the  time  being,  being 
of  our  Privy  Council,  or  any  three  or  more  of  the  same 
being  of  our  Privy  Council,  full  power  and  authority  from 
time  to  time  to  hear  and  finally  determine  all  and  every 
such  appeals  and  such  Judgments  Decrees  or  Sentences 
to  afhrm  change  or  revoke  and  final  judgments  or  sen- 
tences thereupon  to  give  and  pronounce  We  give  and 
grant  by  the  presents  in  such  ample  manner  and  form 
as  Commissioners  appointed  and  assigned  under  our 
Great  Seal  of  Great  Britain  by  virtue  of  the  Statute 
passed  in  the  25th  year  of  the  reign  of  the  Lord  Henry 
the  Eighth  late  King  of  England  entitled  An  Act  for 
the  submission  of  the  clergy  and  Restraint  of  Appeals, 
can  and  ought  to  proceed  in  appeals  subjected  to  their 
determination  by  the  foresaid  statute  ;  anything  con- 
tained in  the  presents  to  the  contrary  in  anywise  not- 
withstanding. 

Commanding  moreover  and  by  the  presents  firmly 
enjoining,  ordering  as  well  all  and  every  our  Governors- 
General  Judges  and  Justices  as  all  and  every  Rectors 
Incumbents  Ministers  Officers  and  our  subjects  whatso- 
ever within  our  Colonies,  Plantations,  and  the  rest  of  our 
Dominions  aforesaid  in  America  that  they  and  each  of 
them  to  thee  the  forementioned  Bishop  of  London  and 


LETTERS  PATENT  TO  BISHOP  OF  LONDON      119 

the  foresaid  Commissary  or  Commissaries  in  due  execu- 
tion of  the  premisses  shall  be  obedient  and  helpful  in  all 
things  as  is  becoming.  In  Witness  whereof  we  have 
caused  these  our  letters  patents  to  be  made.  Witness 
myself  at  Westminster  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  April  in 
the  first  year  of  our  Reign. 

By  writ  of  Privy  Seal, 

Bisse  and  Bray. 

The  Lords  Commissioners  of  Trades  and 
Plantations. 

GEORGE  R. 

George  the  Second  by  the  Grace  of  God,  &c. 

To  Our  Right  trusty  and  well  beloved  Councillor 
Philip  Lord  Hardwicke,  Baron  of  Hardwicke,  Our  Chan- 
cellor of  Great  Britain,  or  Our  Chancellor  of  Great 
Britain  or  Keeper  of  Our  Great  Seal  of  Great  Britain,  for 
the  time  being. 

Our  right  trusty  and  well  beloved  cousin  and  coun- 
sellor Spencer  Earl  of  Wilmington,  our  president  of  our 
Privy  Council  for  the  time  being. 

.  .  .  Francis  Earl  of  Godolphin,  keeper  of  our  Privy 
Seal 

Our  right  trusty  and  well  beloved  Counsellor  Sir 
Rob5t  Walpole  .  .  .  our  first  commissioner  of  our  treasury 
...  Sir  Charles  Wager,  knt.,  our  first  commr.  of  our 
admiralty 

Our  trusty  and  right  entirely  beloved  cousin  and  coun- 
sellor Thomas  Holies,  Duke  of  Newcastle,  one  of  our 
principal  Secretaries  of  state 

Or  our  Principal  Secretarys  of  state  for^the  time  being 
Our  chancellor  of  our  exchequer  for  the  time  being 

The  right  reverend  Father  in  God  Edmund,  Lord 
Bishop  of  London 


120  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

Or  the  Bishop  of  London  for  the  time  being 

Our  Surveyor  and  auditor  General  of  all  or  revenues 
in  America  now,  and  for  the  time  being 

Our  &c.  .  .  .  Lord  John  Monson 

Our  &c.  .  .  .  Thomas  Pelham 

Martin  Bladen 

Edward  Ashe 

James  Brudenell  esq 

Sir  Archer  Crofts  Bart 

Richard  Plumer 

Robert  Herbert  esq,  Greeting 

Whereas  wre  did  by  our  letters  Patent,  under  our 
Great  Seal  of  Great  Britain,  bearing  date  at  Westminster 
the  22nd  day  of  May  in  the  8th  year  of  our  Reign, 
nominate  and  constitute 

Charles  Lord  Talbot  &c 

to  be  our  Commissioners  during  Our  Pleasure  for  pro- 
moting the  Trade  of  this  our  Kingdom,  and  for  inspecting 
and  improving  Our  Plantations  in  America  and  else- 
where, as  in  and  by  our  said  recited  Letters  Patent 
(relation  being  thereunto  had)  may  more  fully  and  at 
large  appear. 

Now  know  ye  that  we  have  revoked  and  determined 
and  by  these  presents  do  revoke  and  determine,  our  said 
recited  letters  patent  and  every  clause  article  and  thing 
therein  contained. 

And  whereas  we  are  extremely  desirous  that  the  trade 
of  our  kingdoms  (upon  which  the  strength  and  riches 
thereof  do  in  a  great  Measure  depend)  should  by  all 
means  be  promoted  and  advanced. 

And  whereas  we  are  persuaded  that  nothing  will 
more  effectually  contribute  thereto  than  the  appointing 
knowing  and  fit  persons  to  examine  and  inspect  into  the 


KING   JAMES. 
From  a  Deed  at  Fulham  Palace. 


LETTERS  PATENT  TO  BISHOP  OF  LONDON      121 

General  Trade  of  this  our  kingdom  and  the  several  parts 
thereof  and  to  enquire  into  the  several  matters  and 
things  herein  after  mentioned  relating  thereunto,  with 
such  powers  and  directions  as  are  herein  after  specified 
and  contained. 

Know  ye  therefore,  that  we  reposing  especial  trust 
and  confidence  in  your  discretions,  Have  nominated, 
authorized,  and  appointed,  and  by  these  presents  Do 
nominate  authorize  and  appoint  (the  list  is  then  repeated 
with  the  addition  of 

William,  Lord  Harrington,  one  other  of  our  principal 
Secret arys  of  state  &c.) 

To  be  our  Commissioners  during  our  pleasure  for  pro- 
moting the  Trade  of  this  our  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain, 
and  for  inspecting  and  improving  our  Plantations  in 
America  and  elsewhere, 

And  to  the  end  that  our  Royal  Purpose  and  Intention 
herein  may  the  better  take  effect  Our  Will  and  pleasure 
is,  and  we  do  hereby  direct  order  and  appoint  That  you 
do  diligently  and  constantly,  as  the  nature  of  the  service 
doth  require  meet  together  in  such  place,  in  our  Royal 
Palace  at  Whitehall,  which  we  have  assigned  for  that 
purpose,  or  at  any  other  place  which  we  shall  appoint 
for  the  execution  of  this  Our  Commission 

And  We  do  by  these  presents  authorize  and  impower 
you,  our  said  Commissioners,  or  any  three  or  more  of 
you 

To  enquire 

Examine  into 

And  take  an  account  of  the  state  and  condition  of  the 
General  Trade  of  Great  Britain 

And  also  of  the  several  particular  trades  into  Foreign 
parts 


122  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

And  how  the  same  are  respectively  advanced  or 
decayed 

And  the  causes  and  occasions  thereof 

And  to  enquire  into  and  examine  what  trades  are  or 
may  prove  hurtful 

Or  are  or  may  be  made  beneficial 

To  our  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain 

And  by  what  ways  and  means  the  profitable  and 
advantageous  trades  may  be  more  improved  and 
extended 

And  such  as  are  hurtful  or  prejudicial,  rectified  or  dis- 
couraged, 

And  to  enquire  into  the  several  obstructions  of  trade 

And  the  means  of  removing  the  same 

And  also  in  what  manner 

And  by  what  means  and  methods 

The  trade  of  our  kingdom  of  Great  Britain  may  be 
most  effectually  protected  and  secured  in  all  the  parts 
thereof 

And  to  consider  by  what  means  the  several  useful  and 
profitable  Manufactures  already  settled  in  our  Kingdom 
may  be  further  improved 

And  how  and  in  what  manner  new  and  profitable 
manufactures  may  be  introduced 

And  we  do  further  by  these  presents  authorize  and 
require  you  our  said  Commissioners  or  any  three  or  more 
of  you 

To  consider  some  proper  methods  for  setting  on  work 
and  employing  the  poor  of  our  said  Kingdom  and 
making  them  useful  to  the  public 

And  thereby  easing  our  subjects  of  that  burden 

And  by  what  means  such  designs  may  be  made  most 
effectual 

And  in  general  by  all  such  methods  and  ways  as  you 


LETTERS  PATENT  TO  BISHOP  OF  LONDON      123 

in  your  discretions  shall  think  best  to  inform  yourselves 
of  all  things  relating  to  trade 

And  the  promoting  and  encouraging  thereof 

As  also  to  consider  of  the  best  and  most  effectual 
Means  to  regain  encourage  and  reestablish  the  Fishery  of 
this  Kingdom 

And  our  further  Will  and  pleasure  is  that  you,  our 
said  Commissioners,  or  any  four  or  more  of  you  do  from 
time  to  time  make  Representations 

Touching  the  premises  to  us,  or  to  our  Privy  Council 

As  the  nature  and  business  shall  require 

Which  representations  are  to  be  in  writing 

And  to  be  signed  by  any  four  or  more  of  you 

And  we  do  hereby  further  impower  and  require 
you  our  said  Commissioners 

To  take  into  your  care  of  all  records,  grants  and  papers 
remaining  in  the  Plantation  Office  or  thereto  belonging 

And  likewise  to  inform  yourselves  of  the  present 
condition  of  our  respective  Plantations 

As  well  in  regard  to  the  administration  of  the  Govern- 
ment and  justice  in  those  places 

As  in  relation  to  the  Commerce  thereof 

And  also  to  enquire  into  the  limits,  soil,  and  Product 
of  our  several  Plantations 

And  how  the  same  may  be  improved 

And  of  the  best  means  for  easing  and  securing,  our 
belongings  there 

And  how  the  same  may  be  rendered  most  useful  and 
beneficial  to  our  said  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain 

And  we  do  hereby  further  impower  and  authorize  you 
our  said  Commissioners 

More  particularly  and  in  a  principal  Manner 

To  inform  yourselves  what  Naval  stores  may  be 
furnished  from  our  Plantations 


124  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

And  in  what  quantities 

And  by  what  methods  our  Royal  purpose  of  having 
Our  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  supplied  with  Naval 
stores  from  thence  may  be  made  practicable  and 
promoted 

And  also  to  enquire  into  and  inform  your  selves  of 

The  best  and  most  proper  methods  of  settling  and 
improving  in  our  Plantations  such  other  Staples  and 
Manufactures,  as  our  subjects  of  Great  Britain  are  now 
obliged  to  fetch  and  supply  themselves  withal  from 
other  princes  and  states 

And  also  what  staples  and  Manufactures  may  be  best 
encouraged  there 

And  what  trades  are  taken  up,  and  exercised  there, 
which  are  or  may  prove  prejudicial  to  Great  Britain  by 
furnishing  themselves,  or  other  Our  Colonys  with  what 
have  been  usually  supplied  from  our  said  Kingdom 

And  to  find  out  proper  means  of  diverting  them  from 
those  trades  and  whatsoever  else  may  turn  to  the  hurt 
of  our  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain 

And  to  examine  and  look  into  the  usual  instructions 
given  to  the  Governours  of  Our  Plantations 

And  to  see  if  anything  may  be  added,  omitted  or 
changed  therein,  to  advantage 

To  take  an  account  yearly,  by  way  of  Journal  of  the 
administration  of  our  Governours  there 

And  to  draw  out  what  is  proper  to  be  observed,  and 
represented  unto  us, 

And  as  often  as  occasion  shall  require  to  consider  of 
proper  persons  to  be  Governours  or  deputy  Governours 

Or  to  be  of  our  Council 

Or  of  our  Counc51  at  Law 

Or  Secretarys 

In  our  respective  Plantations 


LETTERS  PATENT  TO  BISHOP  OF  LONDON      125 

In  order  to  present  their  names  to  us  in  Council 

And  we  do  hereby  further  authorize  and  impovver 
you  our  said  Commissioners 

To  examine  into  and  weigh  such  acts  of  the  Assemblys, 
of  the  Plantations,  respectively  as  shall  from  time  to 
time  be  sent  or  transmitted  hither  for  Our  approbation 

And  to  set  down  and  represent,  as  aforesaid,  the  use- 
fulness and  mischief  thereof,  to  our  Crown,  or  to  our  said 
Kingdom  of  Great  Britain,  or  to  the  Plantations  them- 
selves, in  case  the  same  should  be  established  by  Laws 
there. 

And  also  to  consider 

What  matters  may  be  recommended,  as  fit  to  be 
passed  in  the  Assemblys  there, 

To  hear  Complaints  of  Oppressions,  and  male 
Administrations  in  our  Plantations 

In  order  to  represent  as  aforesaid,  what  you  in  your 
discretions  shall  think  proper 

And  also  to  require  an  account  of  all  moneys  given 
for  public  uses  by  the  Assemblys  in  Our  Plantations  and 
how  the  same  are,  and  have  been  expended  or  laid 
out. 

And  we  do  by  these  presents  authorize  and  impower 
you  our  said  Commissioners  or  any  three  of  you, 

To  send  for  persons  and  papers,  for  your  better 
information  in  the  Premises, 

And  as  occasion  shall  require  to  examine  Witnesses 
upon  Oath, 

Which  Oath  you  are  hereby  impowered  to  administer 
in  order  to  the  matters  aforesaid, 

And  we  do  hereby  declare  our  further  will  and  pleasure 
to  be,  that  you  our  said  Commissioners  do,  from  time  to 
time,  Report  All  your  doings,  in  relation  to  the  Premises, 
in  writing,  under  the  hands  of  any  four  of  you,  as  afore- 


126  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

said,  to  us,  or  to  our  Privy  Council,  as  the  nature  of  the 
thing  shall  require, 

And  we  do  hereby  further  authorize  and  impower 
you  our  said  Commissioners 

To  execute  and  perform  all  other  things 

Necessary  or  proper  for  answering  Our  Royal 
intentions  in  the  Premises 

And  we  do  hereby  further  give  power  to  you,  our 
said  Commissioners  or  any  three  of  you,  as  aforesaid, 
from  time  to  time  as  occasion  shall  require 

To  send  for  and  desire  the  advice  and  assistance  of 
Our  Attorney,  or  Solicitor  General,  or  Our  Council  at 
Law, 

And  we  do  hereby  further  declare  Our  Royal  will 
and  pleasure  to  be  that  we  do  not  hereby  intend  that  Our 
said  Chancellor  of  Great  Britain  or  Our  Chancellor  of 
Great  Britain,  or  Keeper  of  Our  Great  Seal  of  Great 
Britain  for  the  time  being,  or  Our  said  President  of  Our 
Privy  Council,  or  the  President  of  Our  Privy  Council  for 
the  time  being,  Our  said  Keeper  of  Our  Privy  Seal  or 
Our  Keeper  of  Our  Privy  Seal  for  the  time  being,  Our 
said  first  Commissioners  of  Our  Treasury,  or  Our  High 
Treasurer  of  Great  Britain,  or  Our  first  Commissioners 
of  our  treasury  for  the  time  being,  Our  said  first  Com- 
mander of  Our  Admiralty,  or  Our  High  Admiral  of  Great 
Britain,  or  Our  first  Commander  of  Our  Admiralty  for 
the  time  being,  Our  said  Principal  Secretarys  of  State, 
or  Our  principal  Secretarys  of  State  for  the  time  being, 
Our  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  now,  or  for  the  time 
being,  or  the  said  Bishop  of  London,  or  the  Bishop  of 
London  for  the  time  being  or  Our  Surveyor  and  Auditor 
General  of  All  our  revenues  in  America,  for  the  time 
being,  shall  be  obliged  to  give  constant  attendance  at 
the  meeting  of  our  said  Commissioners,  but  only  so  often 


LETTERS  PATENT  TO  BISHOP  OF  LONDON      127 

as,  and  when,  the  presence  of  them,  or  any  of  them 
shall  be  necessary  and  requisite,  and  as  other  public 
service  will  permit. 

Lastly  Our  Will  and  Pleasure  is,  And  we  do  by  these 
presents  grant  to  you,  Our  said  Commissioners,  that 
these  our  Letters  Patent,  or  the  Inrollment  thereof, 
shall  be  and  remain,  in  and  by  all  things,  good  firm, 
valid  and  effectual  in  the  Law,  notwithstanding  the  ill 
reciting,  or  not  truly,  or  not  fully  reciting,  the  said 
former  Letters  Patent,  or  the  Date  thereof,  and  not- 
withstanding the  not  reciting  any  other  Letters  Patent, 
concerning  the  Premises  or  any  of  them  heretofore  made 
or  granted  by  us,  or  any  of  Our  ancestors  or  Predecessors, 
late  Kings  or  Queens  of  England,  or  Great  Britain,  or  any 
other  omission  imperfection,  defect,  matter  cause  or 
thing  whatsoever  in  any  wise  notwithstanding. 

In  Witness  &c  Witness  &c  27  June  II  o  Geo  2di 
1737- 


VI 
WEST  INDIA  ISLANDS 

CHURCHES  appear  very  early  in  the  Leeward 
Islands  and    Jamaica,   and   the  oversight   was 
exercised    by  the   Bishops    of    London    under 
Commissaries. 

Price  of  Provisions  in  Jamaica  about  1715. 

The  following  extract  from  the  return  of  William 
May  is  given  in  "  the  answers  by  persons  who  were  Com- 
missaries to  my  predecessor  "  (?  date  about  1715,  but  the 
paper  is  undated)  sent  out  by  the  Bishop  of  London  : 

"  What  are  the  ordinary  prices  of  the  necessaries  of 
life  (in  Jamaica)  ? 

"  Beef  mutton  and  Pork  are  sold  at  y\  per  pound. 

"  Veal  and  Lamb  12  pence  per  pound. 

"  Fowls  half  a  crown  to  7/6  per  pair  and  all  other  sort 
of  poultry  in  proportion. 

"  Salt  beef,  Pork,  Butter  Fish  Candles,  Flower  and  all 
sorts  of  wearing  apparel  and  household  furniture  we 
have  chiefly  from  Old  and  New  England  and  Ireland, 
for  which  we  pay  as  dear  again  as  we  might  buy  them  in 
those  places  ;  and  in  time  of  scarcity  a  great  deal  more. 
For  I  have  known  a  barrel  of  flower  here  sold  for  four 
pounds  fifteen  shillings.  Madera  wine  which  is  our 
common  drink  mixt  with  water  is  sold  from  18  to  34 
pounds  apipe.     Ale  and  sider  by  the  single  bottle  half 

128 


WEST  INDIA   ISLANDS  129 

a  crown,  by  the  dozen  12/6  or  fifteen  shillings.  And 
one  can't  have  a  lodging  here  under  half  a  crown  a  night. 
I  am  of  opinion  a  man  can  make  as  decent  a  figure  in 
England  for  one  hundred  as  he  can  do  here  for  three 
hundred  pounds  a  year.  For  we  can  have  nothing  here 
under  a  Bit,  i.e.  seven  pence  halfpenny,  that  being  the 
smallest  coin  we  have." 

The  writer  states  that  his  wife  was  killed  in  his  arms 
during  a  hurricane. 

The  Bishop  to  the  Governour  of  the  Leeward 
Islands. 

[Draft  Letter  from  the  Bishop  of  London  to  be  re-copied 
by  a  Secretary.] 
11  Sir,  I  hope  the  catalogue  I  sent  to  you  came  safe  to 
your  hands  as  I  hope  this  will  do  relating  to  the  books 
yet  behind  :  the  money  for  which  is  in  hucksters  hands  ; 
and  therefore  I  pray  you  to  order  the  Churchwardens  of 
St.  Paul's  in  Xevis,  so  soon  as  you  arrive  in  your  govern- 
ment to  send  to  Mr.  Meriwether  immediately  to  pay  into 
my  hands  about  twenty  seven  pounds  which  is  still 
behind  to  compleat  the  sum  of  the  200  pounds  for 
buying  the  books  for  their  Library.  I  pray  God  send 
you  a  happy  voyage  and  pray  remember  the  escheat 
of  Mr.  Osborn's  estate  latelely  fallen  in  the  Parish  of 
Antigoa  and  be  so  kind  as  to  settle  it  immediately  for 
a  glebe  to  the  minister,  I  am  with  all  due  respect, 

M  Sir, 
"  Your  most  assured  friend  and  humble  servant, 

"  H.  London. 
"  Fulham, 

tf  April  19,  171 1. 

"  For  his  excellency  Col.  Douglas,  Governour  of  the 
Leeward  Islands  at  Portsmouth. 

11  H.  London, 
"Ffranck." 


130  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

Parishes  and  Clergy  in  Jamaica. 

A  List  of  the  Parishes,  Churches,  and  Ministers  in 
Jamaica,  April  18,  1715. 

11  St.  Catherines  a  church  blown  down  and  now  rebuilt, 
Mr.  Rich.  Tabor. 

"  St.  David's  a  church. 

"  St.  Thomas  in  the  east,  a  church,  Mr.  Thompson. 

"  St.  Andrews  a  church,  Mr.  Johnson. 

M  Kingston  a  church,  Mr.  Skipp. 

11  Clarendon  a  church,  Mr.  Lloyd. 

M  Port  Royal  a  church,  Mr.  Dunn. 

"  Vere  a  church  rebuilding. 

"  St.  Dorothy's  a  church  blown  down  now  rebuilt, 
Mr.  Hulton. 

"St.  Johns  a  church. 

"  St.  Thomas  in  the  vale  a  church  blown  down,  Mr. 
Reinolds. 

"  St.  George. 

"  St.  Marys,  Mr.  Spence. 

11  St.  Anns  a  church  blown  down. 

"  St.  James. 

11  St.  Elizabeths,  Mr.  Mackallman. 

"  Westmorland  a  church.' ' 

Votes  of  the  Second  Assembly  called  by  his 
excy.  Sir  Nicholas  Lawes,  Kt.,  Lun^e  26 
Octobris,  1719. 

11  The  house  met  and  adjourned  till  to-morrow  morn- 
ing at  Eight  of  the  clock  Martis  27  die  Octobris  171 9. 
To  congratulate  His  Majesty  upon  the  success  of  his 
arms  in  the  North  of  Great  Britain,  as  also  that  of  his 


WEST  INDIA   ISLANDS  131 

Majestys  Navy  against  the  Spaniards  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean, and  to  thank  him  for  sending  several  men  of 
war  for  the  protecting  of  our  trade." 


The  Governour  to  the  Bishop. 

11  My  Lord, 

"  Your  lordship's  early  concern  for  the  churches 
in  the  British  Plantations  and  the  care  you  show  for 
those  under  your  jurisdiction  by  recommending  those 
of  Jamaica  to  my  favour  and  protection  (as  having  the 
honour  of  tie  chief  command  of  these  islands)  by  a 
letter  dated  the  20th  Oct.  from  Westminster  are  evidences 
(peculiar  to  a  person  of  your  Lordship's  great  character) 
how  much  you  have  at  heart  their  welfare  and  prosperity 
though  so  remote  and  consequently  the  more  unhappy 
by  that  situation  from  your  fatherly  eye  and  personal 
indulgence. 

"  But  my  Lord  as  I  esteem  it  my  happiness  as  well 
as  advantage  to  have  been  bred  up  in  the  principles  of 
the  Church  of  England  I  shall  at  all  times  take  pleasure 
in  promoting  the  interest  of  its  professors  and  look  upon 
the  clergy  under  my  government  (as  they  are  the  chief 
by  their  function)  to  be  my  particular  care  and  concern. 
The  time  I  have  yet  been  amongst  them  has  not  given 
me  an  opportunity  of  knowing  either  them  or  their 
characters  to  a  man  but  most  of  those  who  have  pre- 
sented themselves  to  me  I  have  found  to  be  very  de- 
serving and  others  whom  I  have  been  more  distantly 
informed  of  to  bear  a  proportional  share  of  commenda- 
tion and  this  your  lordship  may  be  assured  of  that  I 
shall  suffer  no  disqualified  or  scandalous  person  of  that 
order  to  be  resident  here  so  I  will  always  countenance 
and  show  favour  to  others  who  by  the  purity  of  their 

9—2 


132  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

doctrine  the  exemplariness  of  their  lives  and  a  strict 
attendance  on  their  duty  shall  merit  preference. 

11  It  cannot  be  wondered  at  after  that  universal  deso- 
lation that  was  the  too  fatal  consequence  of  the  late 
hurricane  and  wherein  several  of  the  churches  of  this 
island  had  more  than  an  equal  share  that  of  Portroyall 
being  levelled  with  the  ground,  there  are  in  some  Parishes 
no  churches  at  all,  but  I  have  reason  to  think  that  as 
soon  as  that  calamity  is  in  some  degree  relieved  by  a 
change  of  the  public  face  of  affairs,  all  due  care  will  be 
taken  concerning  them,  and  indeed  I  find  a  disposition 
in  the  people  to  have  the  Parishes  universally  supplied 
with  churches  and  as  I  find  there  are  three  vacancies 
of  incumbent  ministers  those  I  would  be  glad  if  your 
lordship  would  recommend,  no  one  minister  having  less 
than  £100  a  year  as  a  fixed  maintenance  and  most  if 
not  all  have  50  L.  a  year  added  by  the  voluntary  con- 
tribution of  the  Parishoners  by  which  your  Lordship 
will  judge  what  able  ministers  may  be  encouraged  to 
come  hither. 

"  I  am  very  unwilling  my  lord  even  to  suggest  any 

misbehaviour  or  unsuitable  returns  from  gentlemen  who 

have  so  much  advantage  of  the  rest  of  mankind  in  their 

education  and  daily  conversation  with  Books  and  Letters, 

but  if  it  be  my  misfortune  (for  such  I  must  think  it)  to 

have  any  just  grounds  of  exception  to  any  unbecoming 

unworthy  practices  amongst  them  I  shall  shew  them  no 

favour  and  take  care  to  have  them  represented  in  a 

true  light  to  your  lordship  not  doubting  your  doing 

everything  in  your  power  to  contribute  to  the  peace  and 

honour  of  my  government. 

11  I  am  with  the  highest  esteem,  &c, 

"  Portland. 
"  Jamaica, 

"  May  the  5**,  1724." 


WEST  INDIA   ISLANDS 


*33 


Building  a  Church. 

11  Antigua, 
"  January  17,  1712-13. 

"  We  whose  names  are  underwritten  do  oblige  our- 
selves our  heirs  Exrs.  and  admrs.,  severally  each  for 
themselves  to  pay  to  the  Churchwardens  of  Saint 
Phillips  Parish  (sic)  The  respective  sums  by  us  here- 
unto subscribed  for  and  towards  building  a  Parish 
church  in  the  centre  of  the  said  Parish  :  In  witness 
whereof  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  seals  the 
day  and  year  above  written. 
"Will:  Dunning  £20. 


Bald  :  Johnson  £10. 
Symon  Ervin  £5. 
Richd.  Cochran  £20. 
John  Richards  £20. 
Edwd.  Barber  £20. 
John  King  £25. 
Leonard  Allan  £5. 
Will  :  Fran kl and  £10. 
John  Combs  £5. 
John  Lightfoot  £10. 
Geffry  Duncombe  £5. 
Henry  Lyons  £75. 
Joshua  Jones  £100. 


Wm.  Lavington  £75. 
John  Brown,  £10. 
Will  :  Grear  £20. 
Arch  :  Cochran  £36. 
John  Duer  £20. 
Bar  :  Tankerd  £50. 
M.  Swete  £10. 
G.  Lucas  £10. 
E.  Warner  £20. 
Will  :  Howard  £10. 
Ashton  Warner  £10. 
Bap  :  Looby  £20. 
W.  Monk  £20." 


An  Original  Thinker. 

11  Montserrat, 
11  My  Lord,  "July  31,  1714. 

"  I  hope  your  Lordship  will  pardon  this  trouble 
I  give  you  in  acquainting  you  with  an  affair  I  had 
depending  at  the  death  of  the  much  lamented  the  late 
Bishop  of  London. 


i34  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

"  His  lordship  had  by  his  assiduous  application  pro- 
cured a  grant  from  the  Queen  to  me  of  £100  per  annum 
till  I  had  got  a  settlement  in  one  of  the  crown  livings 
for  my  long  and  useful  services  as  a  chaplain  in  the 
Leeward  Islands  since  the  year  1693,  as  may  appear 
from  the  register  of  the  see  of  London.  I  proposed  to 
his  lordship  that  the  branch  of  the  revenue  of  four  and 
a  half  per  cent,  that  is  paid  on  goods  exported  from 
these  islands  could  bear  the  said  charge  of  £100.  His 
lordship  had  likewise  direction  from  the  Queen  to  desire 
my  Lord  Treasurer  to  issue  a  warrant  for  the  same  and 
afterwards  made  me  the  bearer  of  a  letter  to  his  lord- 
ship for  that  purpose  whose  answer  was  that  he  would 
send  to  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  trade's  office  to 
know  how  the  four  and  a  half  duty  stood  charged, 
which  he  did  and  Mr.  Blaithwayte  made  report  that 
the  fund  might  well  bear  the  said  charge  considering 
that  duty  would  be  now  considerably  advanced  by  the 
addition  of  the  French  part  of  St.  Christophers  to  the 
crown. 

"  My  lord  the  consideration  upon  which  I  was  to  have 
the  said  bounty  from  the  Queen  was  my  returning  to 
this  island  after  it  was  destroyed  and  to  endeavour  to 
get  churches  re-built  that  had  been  ruined  by  the 
invasion  and  as  I  was  a  considerable  sufferer  by  the 
enemy. 

"  Those  papers  relating  to  this  affair  are  still  in  the 
custody  of  Mr.  Taylor  in  the  Treasury  office  who  can 
give  your  Lordship  a  particular  account  of  the  proceedure 
made  in  it  at  my  Lord  Bishops  death,  if  your  lordship 
will  be  pleased  to  speak  to  him  about  it  ;  And  I  humbly 
beg  your  lordship  to  speak  to  my  lord  Treasurer  in  my 
favour  ;  and  if  you  think  fitt  to  move  it  over  again  to 
the  Queen  I  believe  she  will  remember  it. 


WEST  INDIA   ISLANDS  135 

"  If  your  lordship  will  enquire  into  my  character  the 
domestic  chaplains  of  the  late  Bishop  of  London  Drs. 
Pelling,  Williams  Gooch,  Mr.  Bridges  and  Mr.  Hall 
Secretary  can  inform  you. 

"  There  was  another  affair  which  my  lord  proposed 
to  the  Queen  for  me  to  do  after  I  arrived  here  which 
was  to  take  a  survey  of  all  the  lands  in  the  French 
part  of  St.  Christophers  which  belonged  to  the  Romish 
orders  and  to  send  home  an  estimate  of  the  quantity 
and  quality  of  them  and  to  which  end  he  was  directed 
by  the  Queen  to  speak  to  my  lord  Dartmouth  then 
Secretary  of  state  to  grant  a  commission  to  me  for  that 
purpose  which  he  did  and  sent  me  likewise  to  wait  upon 
with  a  letter,  who  told  me  that  it  was  an  affair  which 
more  properly  belonged  to  my  lord  Treasurer  but  that 
he  would  speak  to  the  Queen  about  it,  and  the  Bishop 
of  Londons  death  put  a  stop  to  it  likewise. 

"  I  hope  your  lordships  goodness  will  excuse  the 
trouble  I  give  your  lordship  and  if  I  can  be  any  wise 
serviceable  to  you  in  these  islands  or  to  the  interest  of 
the  church  you  may  command  me  when  you  please 
though  no  one  shall  enforce  and  obey  your  lordships 
commands  with  more  sincerity  than,  my  lord 
"  Your  lordship  &c, 

11  Ja  :  Cruikshank. 

"  If  your  lordship  please  to  write  to  me  please  direct 
to  be  left  at  Mr.  Souths,  merchant  in  Lime  street  square 
London. 

M  My  lord,  I  proposed  when  there  was  a  talk  of  send- 
ing out  a  Bishop  for  Barbadoes  and  those  islands  that 
the  Queen  did  bestow  the  Church  lands  in  St.  Chris- 
tophers to  the  clergy  or  officers  under  the  Bishop  and 
would  but  advance  /6,ooo  stock  for  the  settlement  of 


1 36  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

the  Plantation  allowing  for  the  management  thereof  I 
would  in  seven  years  time  repay  the  money  to  the 
crown  and  raise  an  estate  for  ever  of  six  hundred  pounds 
a  year  for  the  Bishop  &c.  and  the  successors." 

Newspaper  Extracts. 

Among  the  papers  in  Fulham  Palace  there  is  a  copy 
of  The  Barbadian  newspaper,  Friday,  November  30, 1827. 
The  following  advertisement  is  interesting  : 

To  the  Freeholders  of  the  Parish  of  St.  Michael. 

11  Gentlemen, 

"  The  absence  of  Mr.  Windsor  from  the  island 
may  perhaps  occasion  a  vacancy  at  the  next  General 
election  of  your  vestry.  I  respectfully  beg  leave  to 
solicit  your  support  in  case  my  name  should  appear  on 
the  poll. 

"  Should  Mr.  Windsor  return  to  the  island,  or  his 

absence  not  disqualify  him  for  re-election  it  is  not  my 

wish  or  intention  to  offer  myself  as  a  candidate.     In  the 

event  of  my  doing  so,  the  suffrages  which  you  may  be 

pleased  to  confer  on  me  will  be  gratefully  remembered 

and  should  they  conduce  to  my  election  every  exertion 

shall  be  used  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  Parish  with 

perseverance  and  fidelity. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be  gentlemen, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"  S.  Cutting. 
"  Bridgetown, 

"  November  23." 

Another  advertisement,  under  the  heading  "  Chancery 
Decrees,"  offers  for  sale  a  bathing-place  called  the  Horse 
contiguous  to  the  sea,  comprising  about  half  an  acre  of 


WEST  INDIA  ISLANDS  137 

land,  being  part  of  the  property,  which  said  planta- 
tion, slaves,  stock,  and  premises  will  be  put  up  for 
sale,  presumably  by  auction. 

Another,  in  the  parish  of  St.  Philip,  with  slaves,  cattle, 
and  quick  and  dead  stock. 

The  Bishop  of  London's  work  appears  in  this 
print,  which  says  (January  18,  1821)  a  meeting  was 
held  in  the  Central  School,  Barbadoes,  and  it  was 
resolved  : 

M  That  in  compliance  with  the  advice  of  the  Bishop 
of  London  a  district  commtitee  of  the  parent  society 
for  promoting  Christian  knowledge  be  formed  in  this 
island,  and  that  the  rev.  John  H.  Pinder  be  appointed 
secretary/ ' 

Before  we  leave  these  items  from  the  dead  past  we 
will  notice  a  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  to 
examine  the  state  and  progress  of  the  school  for  the 
education  of  the  Poor  White  Children  of  the  Parish  of 
St.  Peter,  Bridgetown,  1828. 

The  Rector,  as  usual,  had  been  the  prime  mover  in 
opening  the  schools,  and  the  schoolmaster  was  Mr. 
Stoute.  The  children  were  punctual  in  their  attendance, 
and  the  improvement  in  manners  and  habits  among  the 
girls  is  noted. 

The  addition  of  children  who  are  fed,  and  the  exten- 
sion of  the  advantages  of  boarding  to  three  more  than 
in  the  last  year,  have  made  the  expenses  run  up  to  nearly 
£400.  One  boy  was  apprenticed  on  a  sugar  plantation, 
and  a  girl  was  living  in  the  family  of  the  Rector.  Twenty- 
four  children  did  not  know  the  alphabet  when  they 
entered.  The  present  number  is  thirty-six,  of  whom 
twenty-three  are  fed  and  five  boarded  in  the  master's 
family. 


'38 


THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 


£    s.    d. 
Receipts  . .  412  12     6 


^412  12     6 


£     s.    d. 
Expenses  : 

Paid  for  linens, 
shoes,  blankets, 
stationery,  etc.  . .  51  5  o 
Paid  the  master  for 
teaching,  dieting, 
house  rent,  etc.  278  o  5 
Balance  on  hand  . .     83     7     1 


£412  12     6 


West  Indies,  St.  Christophers. 

A  Letter  most  probably  to  the  Bishop's  Chaplain 
showing  Missionary  Difficulties. 

u  Reverend  Sir, 

"  Your  letter  dated  Jan.  26  came  not  to  my  hands 
till  the  21st  of  last  month.  I  return  you  my  hearty 
thanks. 

"  I  can  never  sufficiently  bless  and  adore  the  good 
providence  of  Almighty  God  that  has  hitherto  been  on 
my  side  and  has  prospered  me  in  the  affairs  of  the  Mission 
my  health  on  times  tolerably  well  after  some  shocks  of 
a  seasoning  last  year  which  were  violent  enough.  And 
the  posture  of  my  own  affairs  is  as  follows  ;  the  Parish  of 
Palmeto  Point  alone  could  not  this  last  year  have 
afforded  me  the  simple  necessaries  of  life  those  parts 
having  been  grievously  afflicted  for  7  or  8  months  past 
with  an  extraordinary  violent  drought  which  has  in 
most  of  these  islands  dried  up  the  lands  and  made  all 
provisions  extremely  scarce.  Besides  that  the  Parish  of 
Palmetto  Point  is  the  poorest  in  the  whole  island  and  in 
a  manner  quite  deserted,  the  inhabitants  there  having 
moved  to  Bassetterre  for  the  most  part.  At  Bassetterre 
again   tis  no  small  inconvenience  to   me  and  to  the 


WEST  INDIA   ISLANDS  139 

inhabitants  that  there  is  no  place  for  the  public  worship 
of  God  but  a  small  hired  room  belonging  to  a  private 
house  not  sufficient  to  contain  a  third  part  of  the 
audience  and  so  extremely  hot  by  reason  of  its  narrow- 
ness and  lowness  of  the  roof  that  several  persons  every 
Sunday  are  ready  to  faint  away  and  are  forced  to  be 
carried  out  whereby  you  may  easily  guess  how  stifling 
the  heat  is  upon  him  that  performs  Divine  Service  : 
the  Church  of  Basseterre  in  the  French  times  is  said 
to  have  been  one  of  the  fairest  and  best  in  all  the  West 
Indies  and  it  appears  to  have  been  so  from  the  walls 
and  ruins  yet  remaining. 

11  But  upon  our  taking  of  the  island  from  them  this 
church  was  burnt  down  by  some  misfortunate  chance 
or  other  and  in  all  appearance  will  never  be  rebuilt 
without  a  contribution  from  England.  The  other 
ministers  also  that  have  served  here  ever  since  the 
conquest  of  the  island  have  had  no  other  settlement  but 
voluntary  contributions  only  :  tis  to  be  hoped  that  as 
soon  as  the  French  lands  here  are  disposed  of  to  th  J 
South  Sea  Company,  the  Parish  of  Bassetterre  will  be 
regularly  settled  that  the  minister  that  serves  it  may 
have  a  fixed  and  a  legal  claim  as  it  is  in  other  Parishes  : 
but  for  the  present  my  establishment  is  merely  precarious 
depending  only  on  voluntary  subscriptions  which  is  the 
reason  that  this  place  has  had  more  ministers  since  the 
French  were  dispossessed  of  it  than  I  can  well  remember 
to  reckon  up,  the  incumbent  being  obliged  to  shift  for 
himself  by  going  to  some  other  Colony  as  soon  as  any 
considerable  arrears  became  due  to  him  :  what  may  be 
my  own  lot  I  cannot  tell ;  But  it  has  been  hitherto  my 
chance  to  be  so  generally  acceptable  and  to  have  the 
popular  humour  upon  my  side  ;  and  every  time  that  I 
reflect  and  consider  how  this  has  come  to  and  by  what 


i4o  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

means  it  has  been  done  in  a  place  of  the  greatest  wildness 
and  license  I  cannot  but  feel  and  acknowledge  the 
special  hand  of  God  in  it  and  must  needs  ascribe  it 
particularly  to  two  or  three  remarkable  incidents  that 
have  chanced  to  be  peculiar  to  myself  of  all  other  of 
the  ministers  that  have  lived  here.  One  good  chance 
was  that  my  Lady  Stapleton's  recommendation  did 
engage  the  General  more  heartily  and  warmly  to  espouse 
my  interest  than  he  had  ever  done  that  of  any  former 
minister  here  ;  His  excellency  when  lately  in  St  Christo- 
phers among  other  instances  of  his  kindness  made  me  a 
present  of  a  Negroe  boy  ;  the  continual  regard  that  he 
has  shewn  towards  me  ever  since  I  have  been  here  has 
made  the  principal  persons  of  this  quarter  very  friendly 
to  me  as  being  for  the  most  part  his  friends  and  depen- 
dents ;  another  thing  is  that  I  happened  at  my  first 
coming  to  make  choice  of  a  churchwarden  who  is  one  of 
the  best  and  most  active  men  of  the  wThole  island  ;  by 
which  means  I  have  no  occasion  to  entangle  myself  in 
the  secular  affairs  of  calling  in  of  debts,  shipping  off  of 
sugars,  &c,  for  he  cheerfully  does  all  such  things  for 
me.  And  this  besides  the  quiet  retirement  it  gives  me 
does  most  happily  rescue  me  from  the  occasions  and 
temptations  of  interfering  with  the  gross  humours 
and  interests  of  people  which  is  the  greatest  snare  and 
inconvenience  that  lies  in  the  way  of  clergymen  in  the 
West  Indies  ;  for  the  Churchwardens  are  generally 
so  remiss  that  Ministers  are  forced  to  call  in  and  re- 
cover their  debts  themselves  and  this  raises  a  general 
odium  and  strangely  embitters  peoples  minds  against 
them  ;  And  from  what  I  have  yet  been  able  to  observe 
tho'  people  do  for  the  most  part  either  find  or  pretend 
occasions  of  traducing  the  ministers  here  and  of  falling 
out  with  them,  this  is  the  real  and  the  chief  cause  and  the 


WEST  INDIA   ISLANDS  141 

first  beginning  of  the  quarrel.  A  third  means  whereby 
under  God's  providence  I  have  been  in  the  good  graces 
of  my  neighbours  and  have  preserved  my  character  and 
my  quiet  among  them,  is  my  seldom  going  abroad  into 
promiscuous  company  for  diversion,  entertainment  and 
the  like  ;  or  indeed  upon  any  other  occasion  but  the 
duties  of  my  place  :  for  being  in  a  married  state  of  life 
I  have  no  occasion  of  going  out  to  Taverns,  eating  houses 
or  the  like  places,  where  it  would  be  impossible  for  any 
one  in  these  parts  especially  to  avoid  rude  and  frivolous 
conversation  and  to  keep  up  the  decorum  which  no 
question  is  the  duty  as  well  as  the  interest  of  every 
minister  to  preserve  ;  And  blessed  be  God  for  it  I  am  so 
happy  in  my  companion  at  home  that  I  have  no 
temptation,  to  be  weary  of  her  company  or  to  prefer  that 
of  other  people. 

11  I  heartily  rejoice  to  hear  of  your  great  happiness  in 
the  married  state  beseeching  Almighty  God  from  whom 
these  and  all  other  blessings  come  to  increase  and 
continue  them  for  many  years  to  yourself  and  to 
your  consort.  I  do  most  heartily  thank  you  for  your 
proffer  of  assisting  me  further  upon  occasion  with  my 
lord  of  London  ;  I  trust  God  will  requite  you  for  your 
great  and  seasonable  kindness  to  me,  and  I  beseech  him 
to  do  it,  both  in  this  and  the  other  life,  and  if  my  affairs 
shall  stand  in  need  of  it,  I  will  always  with  freedom  have  ■ 
my  recourse  to  you  :  When  Bassetterre  is  settled  into  a 
regular  Parish  (as  in  appearance  twill  shortly  be)  I 
can't  make  any  doubt  but  that  considering  General 
Hamilton's  kindness  to  me  all  along  he  will  give  the 
presentation  to  myself  who  am  the  incumbent  rather 
than  to  any  other  minister. 

"  For  the  Parish  of  Palmeto  Point  even  when  it  was  in 
a  flourishing  condition  never  was  able  to  maintain  a 


142  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

minister  by  itself  only  ;  and  it  is  now  in  a  manner 
desolate  the  inhabitants  having  come  to  live  in  Basset- 
terre  ;  However  the  matter  goes  you  shall  have  the 
accounts  of  it. 

f<  I  am  just  now  going  to  write  to  my  Lord  Bruce  as 
also  to  my  Lord  of  London. 

"  I  beg  pardon  for  tiring  you  out  with  my  long  and 
tedious  scribble.  I  repeat  my  wishes  for  your  health  and 
prosperity  in  all  respects  and  am  with  the  utmost 
sincerity,  revd  Sir, 

"  Your  most  obliged  and  most  humble  servant, 

"  John  Anderson. 

"  Basseterre  in  St.  Christophers, 
"  July  15,  1720." 

The  island  of  Nevis  was  discovered  in  1493  by 
Columbus,  but  English  colonization  did  not  reach  it  until 
1628.  The  list  of  Baptisms,  Marriages,  and  Burials  only 
makes  us  wish  that  others  which  were  sent  to  England 
from  the  Early  English  Colonies  could  be  found. 

The  list  of  baptisms,  marriages,  and  funerals  is  likely 
to  be  useful  ;  it  is  the  only  return  remaining  in  the 
records,  although  many  must  have  been  forwarded  to 
Fulham. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  the  returns  from 
the  missionaries  cannot  be  found,  although  they  were 
ordered  and  no  doubt  actually  came  in  many  if  not  all 
cases  to  the  Bishop  and  to  the  Board  of  Trades  and 
Plantations.     What  we  could  discover  we  have  copied. 

The  first  appears  to  be  1716. 


WEST  INDIA   ISLANDS  143 

Parochia  Sancti  Georgii   vulgo  vocatur  Ginger- 
land  Parish  in  insula  Nevi  apud  Anericanos. 

A  true  abstract  taken  from  the  Register  Book  of  the  Parish 
of  St.  George  Nevis  of  the  several  persons  Baptised  in 
the  said  Parish  since  my  institution  therein  com- 
mencing the  fifth  day  of  April  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  1716,  and  in  the  second  year  of  the  reign 
of  our  Sovereign  Lord  George  King  of  Great  Britain, 
France  and  Ireland,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  &c,  con- 
tinned  to  the  25  day  of  March  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
1722,  and  in  the  eighth  year  of  His  Majesty's  reign. 

11  Anno  1716.     Christenings  : 

"  May  3rd  Frances  the  daughter  of  Mr.  George  Webbe 
senr.  by  Elizabeth  his  wife. 

"  21st  Mary  Robert  William  and  Anne  the  Sons  and 
daughters  of  Robt.  Vaughan  by  Mary  his  wife. 

"  21  William  the  son  of  Henry  Doe  by  Rebecca  his 
wife. 

"  26  Thomas  the  son  Themels  Neal,  Cordiner,  by  Anne 
his  wife. 

11  June  24  Richard  the  son  of  William  Burk,  Mason  by 
Sarah  his  wife. 

11  28  Benjamin  the  son  of  Jonas  Webber,  carpenter  by 
Elizabeth  his  wife. 

"  Jul.  2nd  John  Snelling. 

M  Sep.  9th  William  Litton  son  of  Mr.  Thomas  Herbert 
by  Dorothy  his  wife. 

11  Oct.  13  Anne  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Measures 
Parish  clerk  by  Susanna  his  wife. 

"  Nov.  25  Elizabethe  the  daughter  of  Richard  Davis 
carpenter  by  Sarah  his  wife. 

"  Dec.  16  Mary  the  daughter  of  Mr.  William  Smith  of 
the  island  of  St.  Christophers  by  Sarah  his  wife. 


144  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

"  John  Adolphus  the  son  of  Mr.  Jacob  Andrew 
Bernhose,  Chirurgion  by  Margaret  his  wife. 

"  Jan.  20  Katherine  the  daughter  of  Andrew  Mildrem 
by  Mary  his  wife. 

11  Feb.  3rd  John  Meudon  the  son  of  Richard  Waters, 
Taylor  by  Wilmott  his  wife. 

"  10th  William  the  son  of  John  Hooker  Carpenter  by 
Mary  his  wife. 

"  24  Frances  Thomas  and  James  the  daughter 
and  sons  of  John  Oesterma  Taylor  by  Mehetabel  his 
wife. 

11  March  9  Sarah  the  daughter  of  John  Brooks  by 
Margaret  his  wife. 

"  Males  13,  Females  9,  in  all  22. 

"  Anno  1717. 

"  April  11  George  the  son  of  Mr.  George  Webbe  senr. 
by  Elizabeth  his  wife. 

"  22,  Elizabeth  the  daughter  of  John  Wattley,  Mason 
by  Elizabeth  his  wife. 

"  28  Mary  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Morris,  Carpenter 
by  Penelope  his  wife. 

"  July  29  Frances  the  daughter  of  John  Combes, 
Taylor  of  St.  Thomas's  Parish  by  Mary  his  wife. 

"  Aug.  18  Bridget  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Jenkin  Rice 
by  Bridget  his  wife. 

"  Nov.  25  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Mr.  Robt.  Pembertou 
by  Elizabeth  his  wife. 

"  Dec.  1,  1717  Henry  the  son  of  Henry  Doe  by 
Rebecca  his  wife. 

"  Jan.  1  John  the  son  of  Mr.  Edward  lies  by  Sarah  his 
wife. 

w  Feb.  7th  Elizabeth  the  daughter  of  Elizabeth 
Kelly. 


^F  ^^iuuxr^u,  ;^^P^  Ktvu 

KING   CHARLES   I. 
From  a  Deed  at  Fulham  Palace, 


WEST  INDIA   ISLANDS  145 

Parochia  Sancti  Georgii  vulgo  vocata  Gingerland  Parish 
in  Insula  Nevi  apud  Americanos. 

A  true  Abstract,  etc.  [heading  as  before]. 

"  Anno  1716.     Marriages  : 
11  July  2  John  Snelling  and  Bridget  Barber. 
11  Aug.    2nd    John    Hooker,    Carpenter    and    Mary 
Hendrickson,  spinster. 
"  2  couples. 

"  Anno  1717.     Marriages  : 

M  May  21,  Mr.  Roger  Pemberton  and  Mrs.  Frances 
Butler. 
11  1  couple. 

11  Anno  1718.     Marriages  : 

11  June  5  John  Liburd,  Carpenter  and  Mary  Smith 
spinster. 

"  11  Darby  Morris,  Fisherman  and  Mary  Sutton  late 
of  the  island  Tortola. 

"  July  10  Mr.  James  Symonds  and  Mrs.  Mary  Butler. 

"  Aug.  21  Mr.  John  Ffaussett  and  Mrs.  Mary 
Uppington. 

"  Sep.  7  Mr.  Francis  Sanders  Junr.  and  Mrs.  Sarah 
Choppin. 

"  Nov.  20  Mr.  Thomas  Stevens  of  the  island  Antigua, 
merchant  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Choppin. 

"  Dec.  21  Mr,  John  Lane  late  of  the  city  of  Cork  in 
the  kingdom  of  Ireland  and  Mrs.  Anne  Cressey. 

"  7  couples. 

11  Anno  1718.     Christenings  : 

"  April  13  Jane  the  daughter  of  Jonas  Webber, 
Carpenter  by  Elizabeth  his  wife. 

10 


146  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

H  Thomas  the  son  of  Thomas  Neal,  Cordwainer  by 
Anne  his  wife. 

n  Elizabeth  and  Joshua  the  daughter  and  son  of  John 
Hobson,  Taylor  of  St.  James's  Parish  by  Mary  his  wife. 

"  May  29  Joseph  the  son  of  John  Dasent  Esq.  by  Anne 
his  wife. 

"  June  2,  James  the  son  of  Mr.  George  Webbe  senr.  by 
Elizabeth  his  wife. 

11  8th  William  the  son  of  Bartholomew  Stone  Taylor 
by  Mary  his  wife. 

"  26  John  the  son  of  Mr.  John  Fausett  by  Mary  his 
wife. 

11  28  Parnel  the  daughter  of  Francis  Stoddard  by 
Parnel  his  wife. 

"  July  5  j  Mr.  George  Webbe  senr. 

11 19  Roger  the  son  of  Mr.  Roger  Pemberton  by 
Frances  his  wife. 

"  Sep.  6th  Thomas  the  son  of  Darby  Morris  fisherman 
by  Mary  his  wife. 

11  7th  John  the  son  of  Richard  Davis,  Carpenter  by 
Sarah  his  wife. 

" 1 8th  John  the  son  of  Mr.  John  Springett  of  St. 
John's  Parish  by  Anne  his  wife. 

"  Anne  the  daughter  of  Mr.  George  Littman  of  St. 
Johns  Parish  by  Sarah  his  wife. 

11  23  Thomas  the  son  of  Mr.  William  Ilesby  by  Anne 
his  wife. 

11  Nov.  30  Charles  the  son  of  Mr.  Thomas  Herbert  senr. 
by  Dorothy  his  wife. 

"  Dec.  28  Michal  the  daughter  of  John  Hooker 
Carpenter  by  Mary  his  wife. 

"  Jan.  11  John  the  son  of  Joseph  Symonds  by  Sarah 
his  wife. 

"  Males  14,  Females  5  in  all  19  increase  10. 


WEST  INDIA  ISLANDS  147 

"  Anno  1719.     Marriages  : 

"  April  2nd  Isaac  Edwards,  Overseer  and  Sarah 
Evans  spinster. 

"  May  9th  Henry  Saunders,  Mason  and  Susanna  Ashby. 

11  Janua.  5th  Thomas  lies,  Planter  and  Sarah  Lytton 
Junr.  spinster. 

u  10th  Benjamin  Clifton  junr.  and  Annie  Hobson. 

u  Males  3,  Females  6,  in  all  9  decrease  13. 

11  Anno  1719.     Christenings  : 

11  May  10th  Anne  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Jacob  Andrew 
Bernhose,  Chirurgion  by  Margaret  his  wife. 

"  June  15  Jacob  the  son  of  John  Oesterman,  Taylor 
by  Mehetabel  his  wife. 

"  July  20  James  the  son  of  Mr.  William  lies  by  Anne 
his  wife. 

11  28  Hill  the  son  of  John  Dasent  esq.  by  Anne  his 
wife. 

"  Aug.  2,  Joseph  the  son  of  William  Burk  Mason  by 
Sarah  his  wife. 

11  20  John  the  son  of  Mr.  Thomas  Herbert  senr.  by 
Dorothy  his  wife. 

M  28  Nathanael  the  son  of  Nathanael  Clifton  by 
Katherine  his  wife. 

M  Oct.  1st  Isaac  the  son  of  Anne  Nelme. 

"  28  George  the  son  of  Robert  Stoddard  Carpenter  by 
Mary  his  wife. 

"  Nov.  1st  Abraham  the  son  of  John  Brooks  by 
Margaret  his  wife. 

11  8  Edward  the  son  of  Richard  Waters,  Taylor  by 
Wilmott  his  wife. 

11  Dec.  6  Peter  the  son  of  Peter  Kent,  Carpenter  by 
Frances  his  wife. 

11  26  William  the  son  of  Mr.  Edward  lies  by  Sarah  his 
wife. 

10 — 2 


148  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

11  31  Elizabeth  the  daughter  of  William  Hull  by 
Elizabeth  his  wife. 

"  Jan.  2  Mary  the  daughter  of  Mary  lies. 

"15  Thomas  the  son  of  Thomas  Measures  by  Susanna 
his  wife. 

"  21st  John  Butler  the  son  of  Roger  Pemberton  esq. 
by  Susanna  his  wrife. 

"  March  3rd  Francis  the  son  of  Francis  Stoddard  by 
Parnel  his  wife. 

"  8th  Walter  William  the  son  of  Mr.  James  Symonds 
by  Mary  his  wife. 

"  Males  16,  Females  3,  in  all  19  Par. 

"  Anno  1720.     Christenings  : 

11  March  31st  Peter  the  son  of  John  Faussett  by  Mary 
his  wife. 

11  June  6  Bartholomew  the  son  of  Bartholomew  Stone, 
Taylor  by  Mary  his  wife. 

"  July  4.  Mary  the  daughter  of  Jonas  Webber, 
Carpenter  by  Elizabeth  his  wife. 

"  10th  Anne  the  daughter  of  John  Liburd,  Carpenter 
by  Mary  his  wife. 

11  21st  Richard  the  son  of  Richard  Davis,  Carpenter 
b>y  Sarah  his  wife. 

"  Aug.  9.  William  Cressey  the  son  of  John  Lane  by 
Anne  his  wife. 

"  Sep.  13  Robert  the  son  of  Mr.  Robert  Pemberton 
by  Elizabeth  his  wife. 

"  16  Josiah  the  son  of  Mr.  George  Webbe  senr.  by 
Elizabeth  his  wife. 

"  Oct.  2.  Mary  the  daughter  of  Francis  Roper  by  Mary 
his  wife. 

"  Dec.  24th  Samuel  the  son  of  Samuel  Laurence, 
Carpenter  by  Sarah  his  wife. 


WEST  INDIA   ISLANDS  149 

"  Jan.  19  Henrietta  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Herbert  senr.  by  Dorothy  his  wife. 

11  Feb.  14  Carolina  the  daughter  of  Robert  Stoddard, 
Carpenter  by  Mary  his  wife. 

"  Mar.  14  Charles  William  the  son  of  William  Taylor 
Blacksmith  by  Sarah  his  relict. 

"  Males  8,  Females  5  in  all  13  decrease  6. 

11  Anno  1 72 1.     Christenings  : 

u  April  9  George  the  son  of  John  Hooker  Carpenter 
by  Mary  his  wife. 

11  April  20  Joseph  the  son  of  William  Burk  Mason  by 
Sarah  his  wife. 

11  May  18  William  the  son  of  Roger  Pemberton  esq.  by 
Frances  his  wife. 

"  June  1st  Darby  the  son  of  Darby  Morris  Fisherman 
by  Mary  his  wife. 

M  20th  Thomas  the  son  of  Mr.  Thomas  lies  by  Sarah 
his  wife. 

11  July  1st  Richard  the  son  of  Richard  Waters,  Taylor 
deed,  by  Wilmot  his  Widow  relict. 

"  2nd  John  son  of  Peter  Kent  Carpenter  by  Frances 
his  wife. 

11  9th  Anne  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Neal,  Cordiner  by 
Anne  his  wife. 

"  Nov.  9  John  the  son  of  Mr,  John  Kitt  by  Frances  his 
wife. 

"  12th  John  the  son  of  John  Huggins  Carpenter  by 
Elizabeth  his  wife. 

"  Dec.  1  Sarah  the  daughter  of  Jons  Webber,  Car- 
penter by  Elizabeth  his  wife. 

"  26th  Peter  the  son  of  Mr.  John  Ffaussett  by  Mary 
his  wife. 

M  Jan.  2  John  the  son  of  Mr.  John  Webbe  senr.  by 
Elizabeth  his  wife. 


150  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

"  8th  Digby  the  son  of  Isaac  Edwards  by  Sarah  his 
wife. 

"  19th  Mary  the  daughter  of  Henry  Saunders,  Mason, 
by  Susanna  his  wife. 

"31st  Annie  the  daughter  of  James  Butler,  Overseer ; 
by  Mary  his  wife. 

11  Males  14,  Females  4,  in  all  18  increase  5. 

"  Sic  Testor  Henricus  Pope,  et  Rector." 

The  Parish  of  St.  George,  commonly  called  Gingerland. 
[The  same  heading  as  before.] 

"  Anno  1716.     Burials  : 

11  May  2nd  George  the  son  of  Sarah  Clayton. 

"  June  20th  Joseph  the  son  of  John  Dasent  esq.  by 
Anne  his  wife. 

"  Sep.  22  Benjamin  Webber. 

"  Dec.  5  John  Thornton  esq. 

"  17th  Margaret  the  daughter  of  Benjamin  Chezzus, 
Taylor  by  Sarah  his  late  wife, 

11  Males  4,  females  1,  in  all  5. 

"  Anno  1717.    Burials  : 

"  May  nth  Mr.  John  Butler. 

"  July  2nd  Thomas  the  son  of  Thomas  Neal,  Cordiner 
by  Anne  his  wife. 

"  Aug.  3  Thomas  Morris,  carpenter 

Oct.  17th  George  the  son  of  Mr.  Josiah  Webbe  senr. 
by  Anne  his  wife. 

"  Dec.  18th  William  the  son  of  Jonas  Webber,  car- 
penter by  Elizabeth  his  wife. 

11  31st  Robert  the  son  of  John  Wattlay,  mason  by 
Elizabeth  his  wife. 

"  Janua.  25  Mr.  Robert  Plyer. 

"  March  9th  Mr.  Thomas  Cressey. 

11  Males  8  females  o  in  all  8  increase  3. 


WEST  INDIA  ISLANDS  151 

11  Anno  1718.     Burials  : 

u  May  27th  Josiah  the  son  of  Mr.  Josiah  Webbe  senr. 
by  Anne  his  wife. 

"  June  6th  James  the  son  of  Mr.  George  Webbe  senr. 
by  Elizabeth  his  wife. 

"  8th  William  the  son  of  Sarah  Prentis,  mantua  maker. 

"  July  13  Mr.  Jenkin  Rice. 

11  Aug.  4th  William  Carpenter  Taylor. 

"  Sep.  8th  Elizabeth  the  daughter  of  Mr.  John  Kitt 
by  Frances  his  wife. 

11  27th  John  Tyfield. 

"  Oct.  18th  William  Symonds. 

"  Janua.  6th  Mary  the  daughter  of  John  Huggins, 
Blacksmith  by  Alice  his  wife. 

"21st  Anne  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Edward  Fenton  by 
Anne  his  wife. 

"  Feb.  27th  Elizabeth  daughter  of  Joan  Daniel. 

"  Males  7,  females  4  in  all  11  increase  3. 

u  Anno  1719.     Burials: 

11  April  22nd  Leonard  Hendrickson. 

"  June  23rd  Jacob  the  son  of  John  Oesterman,  Taylor 
by  Mehetabel  his  wife. 

"  July  23rd  Mr.  WiUiam  lies. 

"  Sep.  19th  George  Hooker  Carpenter. 

11  Nov.  30th  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Smith  late  wife  of  John 
Smith  of  Stony  hill. 

"  Janua.  14,  John  the  son  of  Thomas  Morris  carpenter 
deed,  by  Penelope  his  wife  relict. 

"  Februa.  25th  Mrs.  Mary  Thornton  relict  of  John 
Thornton  esq. 

11  Mar.  7th  Thomas  McBride. 

"  20 th  George  Evans. 

"  Males  7  females  2  in  all  9  decrease  2. 


152  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

u  Anno  1720. 

M  April  9th  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Stepney. 

11  June  4th  Mrs.  Anne  Sanders  late  wife  of  Mr.  Francis 
Sanders  senr. 

11  July  3rd  Edward  the  son  of  Richard  Waters,  Taylor 
by  Wilmot  his  wife. 

11  July  17th  Mary  Mildrem,  late  wife  of  Andrew 
Mildrem. 

"  Aug.  13th  Joseph  the  son  of  William  Burk  mason 
by  Sarah  his  wife. 

11  Sep.  2nd  William  Cressey  the  son  of  Mr.  John  Lane 
by  Anne  his  wife. 

11  18th  Peter  the  son  of  Mr.  John  Faussett  by  Mary 
his  wife. 

11  Oct.  8  Thomas  the  son  of  Darby  Morris,  fisherman 
by  Mary  his  wife. 

11  9th  Elizabeth  Browne  late  wife  of  Jeremiah  Browne 
senr. 

"  23rd  William  Taylor,  Blacksmith. 

"  Mr.  Daniel  Browne  late  of  the  city  of  Worcester  in 
the  kingdom  of  Great  Britain,  apothecary. 

11  Nov.  2nd  Mary  the  daughter  of  Mary  lies. 

"  8th  Mrs.  Alice  Huggins  late  wife  of  John  Huggins, 
Blacksmith. 

"  16th  Alice  late  wife  of  Nathanael  Jopson. 

11  25th  Mary  Evans. 

u  Dec.  3rd  John  Pride,  soldier. 

11  Janua.  9th  Elizabeth  Wilkinson. 

"  Feb.  8th  Thomas  the  son  of  Mr.  William  lies  deed. 
by  Anne  his  wife. 

"  10th  Sarah  the  daughter  of  Mr.  George  Webbe  by 
Elizabeth  his  wife. 

"  Mar.  15th  Richard  Watters,  Taylor. 

11  Males  10,  females  10  in  all  20  increase  11. 


_ 


WEST  INDIA  ISLANDS  153 

"Anno  1719.     Marriages  : 

"  April  2nd  Isaac  Edwards,  overseer  and  Sarah  Evans 
spinster. 

11  May  9th  Henry  Saunders  Mason  and  Susannah  Ashby. 

"  Janua.  5th  Thomas  lies  Planter  and  Sarah  Lytton 
junr.  spinster. 

11  Janua.  10th  Benjamin  Clifton  junr.  and  Anne 
Hobson. 

11  Feb.  8  Jeremiah  Browne  junr.  and  Frances  Hay  ton 
spinster. 

"  5  couples. 

"  Anno  1720.     Marriages  : 

11  June  23  Edwin  Neal,  Carpenter  and  Elizabeth 
Hobson,  spinster. 

"  Oct.  9,  William  Greatland,  taylor  and  Annie  Tonstall 
spinster. 

"18  Thomas  Oesterman  Mason  and  Penelope  Morris 
widow. 

"  Nov.  27th  Nicholas  Hendrickson  Carpenter  and 
Annie  Hooker  spinster. 

"  Dec.  15  John  Huggins,  Carpenter  and  Elizabeth 
Dasent  spinster. 

11  29th  John  Butler,  Overseer  and  Elizabeth  Kelly 
widow. 

"  Janua.  12th  Mr.  John  Hanley  Planter  and  Bridget 
Liburd  spinster. 

u  7  couples. 

"  Anno  172 1.     Marriages  : 

11  June  8,  John  Davis  Mason,  and  Catherine  Wattlay. 

11  Oct.  23rd,  John  Wattlay  junr.  Mason  and  Anne 
Hannah,  spinster. 

11  Nov.  4th  Benjamin  Clifton  Mason  and  Margaret 
Thraske,  spinster. 


154  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

"  30th  Andrew  Mildrum  atid  Mary  Dogwood. 
11  Dec.    26th   Edward   Evans,   Mason   and   Margaret 
Uppington  spinster. 
u  5  couples. 

"Sic  testor  Henricus  Pope,  et  Rector. 

"  Anno  1721.     Burials  : 

"  May  nth  John  Worrel  late  of  St.  Johns  Parish. 

"  Aug.  15th  Darby  the  son  of  Darby  Morris  by  Mary 
his  wife. 

"  25th  John  Rash. 

"  Dec.  26th  Mrs.  Mary  Hickman  the  daughter  of 
Mr.  Thomas  Hickman  by  Anne  his  wife. 

"  Janua.  20th  Mary  the  daughter  of  Henry  Saunders 
Mason  by  Susanna  his  wife. 

"  Males  3,  females  2,  in  all  5  decrease  15. 

"  Sic  testor  Henricus  Pope  et  Rector" 

AMERICA. 

A  true  Abstract  from  the  Register  Book  of  the  Parish  of 
St.  George,  Nevis,  of  the  several  persons  Baptised, 
Married  and  Buried  in  the  said  Parish  for  one  year 
commencing  the  25th  day  of  March,  1722,  and  in  the 
eighth  year  of  his  Majesty's  reign. 

u  Anno  1722.     Christenings  : 

"  May  8  Mary  the  daughter  of  Robert  Pemberton  esq. 
by  Eliz.  his  wife. 

"  June  2  Elizabeth  the  daughter  of  Maurice  Healy, 
Overseer  by  Mary  his  wife. 

"  June  10  John  the  son  of  Thomas  Oesterman,  Mason 
by  Penelope  his  wife. 

"  12  James  the  son  of  Thomas  Herbert  by  Dorothy 
his  wife. 

"  July  19  John  Butler  the  son  of  James  Symonnds 
esq.  by  Mary  his  wife. 


WEST  INDIA   ISLANDS  155 

"  22nd  Bridget  the  daughter  of  John  Liburd  carpenter 
by  Mary  his  wife. 

M  30th  Richard  the  son  of  Samuel  Laurence,  carpenter 
by  Sarah  his  wife. 

M  Aug.  30  Sarah  the  daughter  of  Edward  lies  by 
Sarah  his  wife. 

"  Nov.  4  Tabitha  the  daughter  of  Francis  Stoddard 
by  Parnal  his  wife. 

"  Nov.  9  John  the  son  of  Mr.  John  Hanley  by  Bridget 
his  wife. 

"  9  Elizabeth  Stephens  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Francis 
Sanders  Junr.  by  Sarah  his  wife. 

"  15  Mary  the  daughter  of  Edward  Evans  Mason  by 
Margaret  his  wife. 

u  Dec.  9  John  the  son  of  Darby  Morris,  Fisherman  by 
Mary  his  wife. 

"  30  William  and  Sarah  the  son  and  daughter  of 
Nicholas  Hendrickson  Carpenter  by  Anne  his  wife. 

"  Feb.  17  John  the  son  of  John  Hooker,  carpenter  by 
Mary  his  wife. 

11  24  Jenkin  the  son  of  Mr.  Jenkin  Rice  by  Henrietta 
his  wife." 

"  March  10  Margery  the  daughter  of  Henry  Saunders 
by  Susannah  his  wife. 

"  Males  9,  females  9,  in  all  18  par." 

A  true  Abstract  from  the  Register  Book  of  the  Parish  of 
St.  George  in  the  Island  Nevis  of  the  several  persons 
Baptised,  Married  and  Buried  in  the  said  Parish  for 
one  year  commencing  the  25th  day  of  March  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  1723,  and  in  the  yiinth  of  His 
Majesty's  reign. 

11  Anno  1723.     Christenings  : 

"  March  31st  John  the  son  of  Wattlay  junr.  Mason  by 
Anne  his  wife. 


1 56 


THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 


"  April  22.  Thomas  the  son  of  Francis  Roper  by 
Mary  his  wife. 

"  April  22  Joseph  the  son  of  Mr.  Thomas  lies  by 
Sarah  his  wife. 

11  June  20th  Mary  the  daughter  of  Robert  Huggins, 
Blacksmith  by  Anne  his  wife. 

"  Aug.  ioth  Frances  the  daughter  of  John  Faucet  by 
Mary  his  wife. 

"  Sep.  i  Mary  the  daughter  of  Bartholomew  Stone  by 
Mary  his  wife. 

"  15.  Sarah  the  daughter  of  Andrew  Mildrem  by 
Mary  his  wife. 

"  Nov.  15.  Sarah  the  daughter  of  Edward  Green, 
Overseer  by  Mary  his  wife. 

"  Dec.  1  Henry  the  son  of  Mr.  Thomas  Herbert  by 
Dorothy  his  wife. 

11  Jan.  8.  Thomas  Joseph  and  George  the  sons  of 
Robt.  Vaughan,  Overseer  by  Mary  his  wife. 

"  Elizabeth  Richardson  the  daughter  of  Mr.  William 
Rice  by  Frances  his  wife. 

"31.  William  the  son  of  Mary  lies. 

"  Feb.  8  Mary  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Neal,  Cordiner 
by  Anne  his  wife. 

"  23,  Martha  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Oesterman. 
mason  by  Penelope  his  wife. 

"  Males  8,  Females  8.     In  all  16,  Decreased  2. 

"  Anno  1722.     Marriages  : 

"  Aug.  15.  Mr.  Francis  Ham  of  St.  Christophers 
Island  and  Mrs.  Mary  Bennett  Widow. 

M  Feb.  21st  Robert  Huggins,  Blacksmith  and  Annie 
Burk  Spinster. 

11  In  all  2  couples. 

11  Anno  1722.     Burials  : 
"  May  29,  Mr.  Joseph  Kitt. 


WEST  INDIA    ISLANDS  157 

"  June  13,  Philip  Hannah. 

"  Oct.  28  James  Morris  Mason. 

"  Nov.  22,  Jeremiah  Browne  Junr. 

11  Dec.  28  Mr.  John  Lane  late  of  the  city  of  Cork  in  the 
Kingdom  of  Ireland. 

11  Feb.  18  Nathanael  Clifton. 

11  March  16  John  Parker  late  of  St.  Thomas  Parish  in 
this  island. 

11  Males  7.     Females  0.     In  all  7  increase  2. 

"  Sic  testor  Hen.  Pope,  et  Rector, 


Robert  PembertonI  „y      .        , 
T  _  Y  Churchwardens, 

James  Earle  J 


u  Anno  1723.     Marriages  : 

"  April  17,  Dudley  McShee,  Planter,  and  Annie 
Harris  Spinster. 

"30th  Mr.  Thomas  Powell  Planter  and  Mrs.  Annie 
Rice. 

"  May  13  Edward  Green,  Overseer  and  Mary  Clifton 
spinster. 

"  June  [date  gone]  st  William  Woolward  Mariner  and 
Annie  Smith  widow. 

4<  Oct.  28  Mr.  William  Earle  and  Frances  Mace. 

"  Nov.  24  John  Key  and  Wilmoth  Watters  widow. 

"  Dec.  24,  Frances  Plaisted,  Mariner  and  Hester 
Stanton  spinster. 

"  Jan  16.  Mr.  John  Williams  and  Mrs.  Frances  Chopin. 

w  Feb.  6  Mr.  Shakerley  Israel  and  Parnel  Perkinson 
spinster. 

"  9  couples. 

"  Anno  1723.     Burials  : 

u  May  19  Mary  the  daughter  of  Robt.  Pemberton  esq. 
by  Eliz.  his  wife. 

"  June  19  Mrs.  Caroline  Hunt  relict  of  Wornel  Hunt 
esq.  deed. 


158  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

"  June  29  Eliz.  the  daughter  of  Thos.  Parry  fisherman 
by  Mary  his  wife. 

11  Aug.  21.  Mrs.  Anne  Webbe  late  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Josiah  Webbe  senr. 

"  Sep.  3  Mrs.  Anne  Fenton  late  wife  of  Mr.  Edward 
Fenton. 

M  18  Mary  the  daughter  of  Bartholomew  Stone  by 
Mary  his  wife. 

u  Oct.  31  Jenkin  the  son  of  Mr.  Jenkin  Rice  by 
Henrietta  his  wife. 

"  Nov.  20  Benjamin  the  son  of  Elizabeth  Dog- 
wood. 

"  21  Constance  the  daughter  of  Robert  Dogwood 
deed,  late  of  the  island  of  St.  Christopher  by  Elizabeth 
his  wife. 

"  Jan  18  Elizabeth  the  wife  of  James  Butler  Over- 
seer. 

"  Feb.  28  Sarah  the  daughter  of  Edward  Green, 
Overseer  by  Mary  his  wife. 

"  Males  2  Females  9  in  all  n  increased  4. 

"  Henry  Pope,  Rector. 

Thomas  Smith  1  ~.        "      ,       „ 
_  TT  \  Churchwardens. 

Thos.  Hickman; 


Slavery  is  now  almost  forgotten,  but  the  missionaries 
were  accustomed  to  it.  This  advertisement  appeared 
in  the  Charribbean  General  Gazette,  or  the  St.  Christopher 
Chronicle,  Saturday,  January  5,  1771  : 

"  Negroes  for  sale  by  Forbes  and  Somersall  at  Sandy 
Point ;  200  prime  Ebbo  slaves.  The  terms  of  payment 
will  be  made  agreeable  to  the  purchasers,  and  the  slaves 
exposed  at  any  time,  there  being  no  fixed  day  for  com- 
mencing the  sale.     January  1,  1771." 


WEST  INDIA   ISLANDS 
The  same  paper  advertises  : 


i59 


11  Stopped  from  a  negro,  who  offered  it  for  sale,  a  plain 
silver  lever  watch.  The  owner,  by  describing  the  makers 
name,  number,  etc.,  may  have  it  by  applying  to  the  printer 
hereof,  and  paying  charges." 


BARBADOES. 

The  following  list  of  the  parishes  and  clergy  in  the 
island  of  Barbadoes  in  1772  is  not  without  interest. 
It  is  addressed  to  Richard,  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  but 
it  bears  no  signature.  There  is  a  small  pen-and-ink 
sketch  map  of  Barbadoes  at  the  top  of  the  sheet. 

"  Parish  of  St.  George    . .  The  rev.  John  Carter. 

St.  James     . .  ,,       Kenneth  Morison. 

St.  Joseph    . .  ,,       James  Lewis. 

St.  Philip     . .  ,,       the    hon.     Robert 

Braithwaite. 
St.  Thomas  . .  ,,       William  Duke. 

St.  Lucy       . .  ,,       Thomas  Harris. 

St.  Andrew  . .  ,,       Thomas  Duke. 

St.  Michael  . .  „       Thomas  Wharton. 

St.  John       . .  ,,       Benjamin  Spry. 

St.  Peter      . .  „       Richard  Saer. 

Christ  Church  „       Robert  Bowcher. 

11  James  Butcher  and  Michael  Mashart  of  Codrington 
College. 

"  Joseph  Hebson  and  Joseph  Hutchins,  curates  at 
St.  Michael's. 

"  The  revd.  Haynes  Gibbes^ 

,,        Edward  Brace    | 

William  Terrill  f 

John  Neblett     J 

"  The  names  of  the  rectors  are  inserted  according  to 

the  priority  of  their  induction. 


Without  cures. 


160  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

"  The  parishes  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Thomas  have  each 
a  chapel  (December,  1772). 

Copy  of  a  letter  from  the  Bishop  about  Marriage 
Licences  : 

"  London, 
"  SlR  u  December  24,  1795. 

11  A  few  weeks  ago  I  received  a  letter  from 
Mr.  Marischal  Keith  Rector  of  the  Parishes  of  Paget 
and  Warwick  in  the  Island  of  Bermuda.  In  this  he 
informs  me  that  you  have  been  lately  pleased  to  grant 
Marriage  Licences  to  a  Presbyterian  Minister  at  Ber- 
muda. This  he  says  has  never  been  the  custom  of  any  of 
your  predecessors  and  it  is  certainly  unprecedented  in 
this  country. 

11  I  therefore  think  it  my  duty  to  entreat  your 
excellency  to  discontinue  this  practice  which  I  appre- 
hend you  will  upon  further  inquiry  find  not  to  be 
warranted  by  law. 

"  Mr.  Keith  says  that  if  it  be  continued  it  will  make 
his  benefice  not  worth  holding  as  his  principal  depen- 
dence is  on  surplice  Fees.  But  besides  this  there  is 
another  mischief  to  be  apprehended  from  it  which  well 
deserves  your  excellency's  very  serious  consideration. 
It  may  have  the  effect  of  producing  questions  and 
doubts  concerning  the  legality  of  Marriages  solemnized 
in  virtue  of  such  Licences.  And  I  have  great  authority 
for  saying  that  if  the  validity  of  a  Marriage  performed 
under  such  a  Licence  was  to  be  disputed  here  in  a 
matter  of  civil  right  it  might  be  of  very  dubious  decision. 
11  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir, 
u  Your  excellency's  most  obedient  servant, 

"  B.  London." 


_ 


WEST  INDIA   ISLANDS 


161 


THE  WEST  INDIA  ISLES. 

Number  of  people  in  the  British  Colonies  as  they  were 
in  the  year  1761,  as  near  as  can  be  conjectured  from 
good  calculations  : 


Whites. 

Blacks. 

Jamaica 

26,000 

90,000 

Barbadoes 

25,000 

80,000 

St.  Christopher's.  . 

7,000 

20,000 

Antigua 

7,000 

30,000 

Montserrat 

4,000 

10,000 

Nevis 

4,000 

10,000 

Barbuda,  Bermudas 

Ba- 

hama,  and  small  is 

>les. 
Isles 

10,000 
9 

2  5,000 

In  all  the  West  India 

about 

83,000 

205,000 

About  two  years  ago  it  was  presumed  that  there  were 
90,000  of  the  former  and  270,000  of  the  latter,  but  the 
conquest  of  Guadalupe,  etc.,  took  a  good  many  to 
settle  there. 

Lay  Workers  or  Catechists. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Declarations,  etc.,  of 
Catechists  in  the  Diocese  of  Barbadoes  and  the  Leeward 
Islands. 

Printed  at  the  Barbadian  Office,  High  Street,  Bridge- 
town, 1827. 

Note. — On  plantations  at  great  distance  from  the 
parish  church,  and  in  remote  districts  where  there  is 
no  resident  clergyman  the  Catechist  is  authorized,  in  the 
absence  of  the  minister,  to  bury  the  dead,  and  return 
thanks  to  God  for  women  after  childbirth. 

Declarations  made  and  subscribed  by  each  Person  previous 
to  his  being  licensed  as  a  Catechist  by  the  Bishop. 

"  I  will  not  preach  nor  interpret,  nor 

minister  the  Sacraments,  or  other  public  rites  of  the 

11 


1 62  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

Church  but  only  teach  and  read  on  the  Plantations  or 
other  places  committed  to  my  care,  that  which  the 
minister  shall  direct  for  the  instruction  of  the  young  and 
ignorant  in  the  principles  of  the  Christian  religion. 

"  I  will   visit   the   Plantations   or   other 

places  at  such  times  only  as  shall  have  been  agreed  upon 
between  the  minister  and  the  respective  proprietors. 

"  I  will    use    sobriety    in    apparel    and 

especially  during  the  times  of  religious  instruction. 

"  I  will  as  far  as  in  me  lieth,  with  God's 

help  move  men  to  quiet  and  concord,  and  not  give  them 
cause  of  offence. 

"  I  will  be  diligent  in  the  reading  of  the 

Holy  Scripture,  with  prayer  and  good  advisement  to  the 
increase  of  my  knowledge. 

"  I  will    weekly,    or    as    often    as    the 

minister  of  the  Parish  under  whom  I  may  be  placed 
shall  require  make  a  faithful  report  of  the  number  and 
names  of  the  Plantations  visited  by  me  during  the  week, 
and  of  their  spiritual  progress  to  the  best  of  my  judgment; 
agreeably  to  the  following  schedule  : 

"  Form  of  Catechetical  Report. 

"  Name  of  Plantation,  time  and  length  of  attendance, 
and  proprietor. 

"  In  what  instructed.    Number  present.    Remarks." 

Schools. 

An  old  register  for  schools  in  the  Diocese  of  Barbadoes 
and  the  Leeward  Islands  was  issued  at  the  same  time 
and  place  as  the  foregoing. 

It  contains  a  register  of  attendance  to  be  marked — 
"  p,"  present  ;  "  a,"  absent  ;  "L,"  absent  without 
leave  ;  "  S,"  absent  from  sickness. 


WEST  INDIA   ISLANDS 
The  register  of  progress  is  divided  as  follows  : 
Register  of  Progress. 


163 


Class. 

Day. 

I  St 

Mon. 

Tu. 

2nd 

Wed. 

— 

Th. 

3rd 

Fri.    : 

I    Reading 
Religious  Instruction.  and 

Spelling. 


Collect,  Epistle, 
or  Gospel  for 
Sunday  previ- 
ous. 


Church  Cate- 
chism. 
Four  or  five 
pages  broken  do. 

A  section  Cross- 
man's  "  Intro- 
duction," etc. 
Do. 


Psalms 

and 
Second 
Lesson 
for  the 

day. 

Do. 

Do. 


Do. 


Writing. 


On  slates, 

Collect 

last 

repeated. 

On  paper. 
Do. 

On  slates. 


Ciphering 

and 

Tables. 


Simple 
interest. 


Do.,  with 
tables. 
Rule  of 
three  and 
practice. 
Interest. 


Do.     1  On  paper.        Do. 


Useful  Work. 
Remarks.  . .  . 


Disestablishment. 

The  following  extracts  from  an  appeal  to  the  English 
public  from  the  Bishop,  clergy,  and  laity  of  the  Church 
of  England  in  Jamaica  is  worthy  of  serious  consideration 
to-day  : 

"  The  Church  of  England  was  established  by  law  in 
Jamaica,  and  has  existed  without  interruption  in  alliance 
with  the  state  from  the  earliest  settlement  of  the  island 
as  a  British  colony  until  the  31st  December  last. 

"  In  1866  the  Church  consisted  of  92  beneficed  clergy 
supported  by  the  state,  each  represented  an  average 

11 — 2 


1 64  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

district  of  60  square  miles  and  a  cure  of  3,200  members. 
The  number  of  state-paid  clergy  at  present  is  only  55, 
so  that  the  average  cure  of  souls  will  be  nearly  6,000  and 
an  area  of  100  square  miles. 

11  The  reduction  of  the  Church  establishment  began 
in  Jan.  1867  by  the  withdrawal  of  the  Government 
maintenance  of  parochial  officers  whereby  an  annual 
expenditure  of  £6,600  was  at  once  transferred  from  the 
Island  exchequer  to  the  congregations  of  the  estab- 
lished church.  About  the  same  time  where  vacancies 
occurred  by  death  catechists  were  substituted  for 
clergy. 

"  The  first  result  after  putting  two  churches  where 
possible  under  one  pastor  was  that  21  congregations 
were  left  destitute  of  the  regular  ministrations  of  a 
resident  clergyman. 

"  A  sustentation  fund  was  set  on  foot,  but  the  congre- 
gations in  most  need  are  those  in  which  the  people  in 
point  of  worldly  means  are  least  able,  and  in  point  of 
intelligence  and  education  least  likely  to  care  for  their 
spiritual  wants." 

The  Church  in  Jamaica  does  not  enjoy  any  of  the 
advantages  which  exist  in  Ireland,  and  in  some  colonies 
where  the  voluntary  system  has  been  successfully  tried. 
It  has  no  property  except  a  few  parsonage  houses  and 
glebes  of  a  comparatively  small  value — no  endowments 
whatever — and  but  few  members  who  can  afford  to  give 
otherwise  than  in  the  way  of  sacrifice  and  self-denial. 


VII 
CAROLINA,  GEORGIA,  AND  MARYLAND. 


X  "T  TE  may  follow  the  working  of  the  Bishop  of 
\/  V      London    and    the  missionary  into    Carolina, 
but  space  will  of  necessity  limit  what  might 
easily  be  extended. 

The  first  charter  to  Carolina  was  made  in  1662,  and 
it  followed  the  usual  lines  of  making  a  colony  to  enlarge 
the  empire,  and  spread  the  faith  of  the  Church  of  England 
in  the  wilderness.  Its  early  Church  history  was  not  very 
prosperous,  and  a  state  of  lawlessness  which  prevailed 
added  to  the  difficulties  of  the  pioneers. 

CAROLINA. 

A  Poor  Missionary. 

"  October  30,    1723. 
"  My  Lord, 

"  By  this  my  third  letter  I  gratulate  your  lord- 
ship's accession  to  the  See  of  London. 

"  May  your  lordship  exceed  all  your  predecessors  in 
honour  and  goodness  as  well  as  happiness  :  I  know  how 
precious  your  Lordships  time  is  :  therefore  am  brief. 

11  A  family  almost  starving  occassioned  my  coming 
hither  in  service  of  the  honourable  the  society  of  pro- 
pagating the  [Gospel]. 

"  Here  we  have  bread  indeed,  but  all  other  things  are 
so  dear  that  tis  impossible  I  should  lay  up  for  my 
children. 

165 


1 66  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

11  My  worthy  lord  I  humbly  crave  you  would  alter 
your  opinion  of  me  that  I  am  of  a  roving  and  unsettled 
mind.  I  am  not  naturally  so  my  hard  fate  has  made 
me  seek  repose. 

11  Seeing  beggary  before  me  in  old  age,  and  pursuing 
my  posterity  can  your  lordship  censure,  and  not  rather 
pity  me  seeking  for  some  place  in  the  habitable  globe 
which  may  prevent  it  ? 

"  The  cure  of  Philadelphia  city  in  Pensilvania  a  few 
days  sail  hence  is  in  your  lordships  nomination  and  now 
vacant.  Its  worth  at  least  £200  per  annum.  I  beg  it 
of  your  lordship.  That  country  is  as  cheap  again  as 
this  for  we  are  supplied  thence  with  flour,  bisket  and 
other  necessaries. 

1  Bridge  town  in  Barbadoes,  St.  Johns  in  Antegoa, 
Spanish  town  in  Jamaica  are  all  good  provisions  for  a 
family,  when  they  fall  into  your  lordships  disposal. 

"  The  rev.  Mr.  Bull  your  Lordships  predecessors 
Commissary  here  has  I  doubt  not  before  this  date  given 
your  lordship  an  account  of  the  state  of  the  church  in 
this  province  :  which  makes  me  silent  on  that  head.  I 
most  humbly  beg  your  lordships  blessing  and  subscribe 
myself,  &C." 

SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

An  Indian  War  and  a  New  Church. 

11  To  the  right  rev.  Father  in  God,  etc.  The  humble  address 
of  the  vestry  and  churchwardens  of  the  Parish  of 
St.  Helena,  in  Granville  county. 

"  We  your  lordships  most  dutiful  and  affectionate 
people  of  the  said  Parish  beg  leave  to  represent  to  your 
Lordship  that  we  have  been  an  erected  Parish  for  above 
ten  years,  but  through  the  misfortunes  of  an  Indian 


THE  AMERICAS  167 

war  have  been  without  the  blessing  of  having  either 
church  or  minister. 

"  Now  it  has  pleased  God  to  restore  us  to  the  blessing 
of  peace,  by  the  bounty  of  the  General  assembly  and  a 
subscription  of  his  excellency  and  several  other  patrons, 
we  have  a  handsome  brick  church,  a  building  which 
will  be  finished  in  three  months,  our  humble  Petition  to 
your  lordship  is  that  your  lordship  would  be  pleased 
to  send  us  a  sober  and  learned  parson  to  be  our  minister 
we  being  a  frontier  Parish  and  most  of  our  people  in- 
clinable to  the  church,  but  for  want  of  enjoying  the 
blessing  of  the  Gospel  and  public  worship  as  by  law 
established  they  are  daily  tempted  and  led  away  to  a 
dissenting  meeting  that  has  been  for  some  years  settled 
among  us.  Your  lordship  speedily  sending  us  a  parson 
as  above  mentioned  will  prevent  that  growing  mischief 
and  be  a  means  of  settling  the  place  which  is  now  a 
great  objection  against  it. 

"  There  is  allowed  fifty  acres  of  good  land  joining  to 
the  town  and  a  house  to  be  erected  on  it  for  the  use  of 
the  minister,  as  also  one  hundred  pounds  proclamation 
money  per  annum  allowed  the  minister  by  act  of 
assembly. 

"  We  hope  your  lordship  will  use  your  interest  with 
the  society  for  their  bounty  as  usually  allowed  ministers 
in  these  parts.  We  can't  doubt  but  your  lordship  will 
think  our  case  a  very  hard  one  and  that  all  due  encour- 
agement ought  to  be  given  us  as  being  a  frontier  people 
and  having  the  best  Harbour  in  the  province  and  a 
place  well  situated  for  trade  and  are  daily  in  hopes 
of  its  being  made  a  port  of  entry  which  will  be  a  great 
encouragement  to  several  persons  who  are  desirous  of 
settling  here  and  a  great  strengthening  to  the  whole 
province.     We  hope  your  lordship  will  take  us  under 


i68 


THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 


your  serious  consideration,  and  beg  leave  to  subscribe 
ourselves,  etc., 

"  John  Horton,        \ 
Aqualler  Rose, 
Rowland  Evans, 
William  Hassard, 
James  Hatcher, 
Thomas  Stone, 
"  Beaufort, 

July  22,   1724." 


y  Vestrymen. 


An  Active  Minister. 

"  At  the  Parish  Church  of  St.  Paul's, 

"  March  29,  1725. 
"  May  it  please  Your  Lordship, 

"  We,  the  vestry  churchwardens  and  inhabitants 
of  the  Parish  of  St.  Paul's,  return  your  lordship  our  most 
humble  and  hearty  thanks  for  the  mission  of  the  rev. 
Mr.  David  Standish,  whose  learning  and  pious  industry 
not  only  affords  means  of  consolation  to  us  but  also 
extends  itself  to  our  more  remote  southward  Parishes 
who  have  been  a  long  time  destitute  of  an  orthodox 
minister,  his  vigilance  and  care  are  no  less  extraordinary 
in  applying  such  wholesome  doctrine  for  the  entire 
removal  of  schism  and  defeating  the  busy  endeavours 
of  dissenting  teachers  as  our  congregation  is  more 
numerous  and  will  we  hope  prove  an  instance  of  the 
happy  influence  of  God  upon  the  charitable  under- 
taking of  the  honourable  society  whose  promotion  and 
welfare  we  are  bound  heartily  to  pray  for. 

"  Henry  Nicholes,      John  Gibbes, 
Samuel  Davies,        Robert  Young, 
Andrew  Hext,  John  Stanyarne." 


THE  AMERICAS 


169 


A  Sick  Missionary. 

St.  Andrew's  Parish  in  South  Carolina, 

March  29,  1725. 

The   vestry  and   churchwardens   sent   a   letter   with 

their  minister,  the  Rev.  M.  Guy,  who  was  proceeding  to 

England  from  ill-health,  caused,  they  add,  by  his  great 

fatigue  in  heat  and  cold  supplying  other  Parishes  which 

had  no  minister.     It  is  signed  by 

u  W.  Cassels,         \  rhurchwar(ien* 
John  Williams,/  Murcndfaraens. 

Samuel  William  Bath  [or  Ball],\ 
William  Lawson, 

William  Ffuller, 

Arthur  Hall, 

Richard  Fuller, 

Thomas  Dynes, 

Joseph  Heap, 

Francis  Ladson, 

William  Hulles, 

Stanley  Williamson, 

William  Streats, 

Samuel  West, 

Charles  Hill, 

William  Miles, 

Isaac  Bodet, 

Robert  Lawson,  / 


Vestrymen." 


A  Church  Organ. 

Extract  from  a  letter  from  Mr.  Commissary  Garden. 

11  South  Carolina,  Charlestown, 

"  June  28,   1729. 

"  The  vestry  and  people  of  Charlestown  desire  me  to 
return  your  Lordship  their  most  dutiful  acknowledg- 
ments for  your  ready  and  favourable  direction  in  the 


170  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

purchase  of  an  organ  for  us.  It  is  now  come  safe  to 
hand,  and  we  hope  to  have  it  fitted  up  for  use  in  a  short 
time/' 

G.  R. 

(Royal  Arms.) 

"  South  Carolina. 

"  By  the  Honourable  William  Bull,  Esq.,  Lieutenant- 
Governour  and  Commander-in-chief  in  and  over  his 
Majesty's  said  Province. 

'A  Proclamation. 

"  Whereas  by  the  advice  of  his  Majesty's  Honourable 
Council  I  did  on  the  third  day  of  August  instant  issue 
my  Proclamation  reciting  '  That  it  having  been  repre- 
sented to  me  that  divers  dissolute  and  disorderly 
persons  had  of  late  assembled  themselves  together  in 
the  North  Western  parts  of  this  Province  in  a  riotous 
and  unlawful  manner,  to  the  disturbance  of  the  public 
peace  and  particularly  had  in  the  most  illegal  manner 
taken  upon  them  to  whip  and  confine  several  persons 
under  the  pretence  of  punishing  them  for  crimes  which 
they  had  charged  against  them  instead  of  delivering  them 
into  the  hands  of  public  justice  ;  and  had  daringly 
resisted  the  execution  of  the  King's  process  ;  and  that 
these  acts  of  violence  had  been  accompanied  with  threats 
of  still  greater  outrages,  which  had  spread  terrour  and 
alarm  amongst  those  most  likely  to  be  immediately 
affected  thereby  ;  and  that  some  of  the  said  dissolute 
and  disorderly  persons  had  audaciously  attempted  to 
Intimidate  and  deter  the  civil  Magistrates  from  doing 
their  duty.  And  I  having  taken  the  same  into  my 
serious  consideration  did  think  proper  thereby  strictly 


THE  AMERICAS  171 

to  require  and  command  all  the  justices  provost  marshal! 
and  all  other  the  peace  officers  of  this  province  to  use 
their  utmost  endeavours  by  every  legal  means  in  their 
power  to  prevent  and  suppress  all  such  tumults  and 
unlawful  assemblies,  and  to  that  end  to  put  in  due 
execution  the  laws  for  preventing  suppressing  and 
punishing  the  same  ;  assuring  all  those  and  all  others 
acting  in  obedience  thereto  of  the  protection  and  support 
of  law  in  so  doing  :'  But  forasmuch  as  it  has  also  been 
further  represented  and  appears  to  me  that  very  many 
of  the  persons  concerned  in  the  said  acts  of  violence 
have  been  unwarily  drawn  in,  and  were  provoked  thereto 
by  the  great  and  repeated  losses  they  had  sustained 
from  the  Gangs  of  Robbers  and  Banditti  who  infested 
those  parts,  and  who  were  become  the  more  dangerous 
and  daring  by  being  confederated  in  numerous  bodies 
and  it  was  thereby  rendered  difficult  to  bring  them  to 
public  justice  ;  I  therefore  taking  the  same  into  my 
serious  consideration  and  being  willing  under  such  cir- 
cumstances rather  to  prevent  than  inflict  the  punish- 
ment due  to  such  outrageous  and  illegal  proceedings 
Do  hereby  and  with  the  advice  of  His  Majesty's  honour- 
able Council  issue  this  my  proclamation  hereby 
strictly  commanding  and  requiring  all  Persons  so  un- 
lawfully assembled  to  Disperse  themselves  and  repair 
peaceably  to  their  respective  houses  and  occupations 
and  forbidding  them  and  all  persons  hereafter,  at  their 
utmost  peril  so  to  assemble  again.  And  I  do  hereby 
promise  his  majesty's  most  gracious  pardon  for  the 
Misdemeanours  by  them  committed,  at  any  time  before 
the  day  of  the  date  hereof,  in  so  unlawfully  assembling, 
whipping,  or  confining  any  person  or  persons  as  afore- 
said to  all  such  as  shall  forthwith  pay  a  due  obedience 
to  this  my  proclamation  ;   excepting  to  the  persons 


ij 2  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

concerned  in  those  outrageous  and  daring  violences 
committed  by  gideox  gibson  and  others  upon  george 
Thomson  a  lawful  constable  and  his  party  then  in  the 
actual  Execution  of  a  legal  warrant  at  or  near  Marr's 
Bluff  in  Craven  County  upon  the  25th  day  of  July  last. 
"  Given  under  my  hand  and  the  great  seal  of  his 
majesty's  said  province  at  Charlestown  this  sixth  day 
of  August  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  sixty-eight  and  of  his  majesty's  reign  the 
eighth  year. 


William  L.M.S.  Bull. 


11  By  his  honour's  command, 
"  Thomas  Skottowe,  Secretary. 

u  God  save  the  Kins:." 


MARYLAND. 

The  State  of  the  Church. 

The  humble  representation  of  the  clergy  of  Maryland 
concerning  the  state  of  the  Church  in  that  Province 
in  answer  to  certain  questions  proposed  by  His 
Excellency  the  Governour  to  them. 

"May  it  please  Your  Excellenxy, 

"  We  the  Clergy  of  the  Church  of  England  in  the 
Province  of  Maryland  return  your  excellency  our  un- 
feigned [?  gratitude]  for  this  signal  proof  of  your  excel- 
lency's care  for  the  Church,  and  in  obedience  to  your 
commands  present   you  with  a  view  of  our  Parishes 


THE  AMERICAS  173 

and  Churches  as  perfect  as  possibly  we  could,  every  one 
of  us  applying  his  own  case  to  each  of  your  excellency's 
proposals  and  upon  the  whole  we  find  accordingly  to 
the  tenour  of  article,  1st, — 

"  That  God  Almighty  is  duly  served  throughout  this 
Province  according  to  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  in 
every  Parish  where  there  is  an  incumbent  every  Sunday 
and  in  many  every  holiday  the  blessed  Sacrament  is 
administered  according  to  the  rites  of  the  Church  of 
England.  There  are  in  most  parishes  sufficient  number 
of  churches,  it  were  to  be  wished  the  parishoners  would 
take  a  little  care  to  put  some  in  better  order  and  decency. 

11  Glebes  are  various,  in  some  very  good,  in  some  but 
small  ones  and  in  some  none.  We  cannot  but  averr 
that  most  of  our  Parishes  have  but  very  bare  competency 
which  we  are  ready  to  make  out  by  enumerating  par- 
ticulars and  appealing  to  your  excellency  the  honourable 
Council  and  all  the  world. 

11  We  beg  your  excellency's  leave  to  add  a  word  con- 
cerning Libraries  that  it  is  commonly  received  by  many 
in  England  and  particularly  by  the  Hon.  Society  for 
propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  parts,  there  is  a 
Library  in  every  parish,  yet  we  find  by  a  careful  compu- 
tation there  are  Parishes  in  this  province  that  neither 
have  nor  ever  had  a  Library. 

"  Art.  2.  Every  minister  is  principal  vestryman  in  his 
Parish. 

"  Art.  3.  We  know7  of  none  which  administers  in 
the  sacred  offices  of  our  church  without  orders,  and 
for  your  excellency's  full  satisfaction  we  are  ready 
to  produce  our  Ministerial  letters.  Some  of  us  who 
live  most  remote  from  this  city  pray  your  excellency 
would  depute  any  of  your  hon.  council  to  inspect  them. 

"  Art.  4.  We  do  all  profess  with  one  voice  that  we 


174  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

have  due  sense  of  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London's  juris- 
diction here  and  we  will  ever  do  all  we  can  to  promote 
the  same  as  long  as  it  shall  please  God  to  continue  him 
to  us. 

"  Art.  5.  The  case  of  the  schools  is  very  bad,  good 
schoolmasters  are  very  much  wanting,  what  we  have 
very  insufficient  and  of  their  being  qualified  by  the 
Bishop  of  London  or  Governours  licence  it  has  been 
entirely  neglected. 

"  There  is  a  Table  of  Marriages  in  every  Church, 
and  there  is  a  severe  law  to  prevent  incestuary  Mar- 
riages. 

"  The  seventh  and  last  article  which  truly  we  regard 
as  of  the  utmost  consequence  in  religion  we  say  we  have 
and  shall  use  our  best  endeavours  in  the  exercise  of  our 
functions  to  discountenance  the  sins  of  drunkenness, 
debauchery,  swearing,  and  blasphemy,  and  we  pray 
your  excellency  to  enjoyne  the  civil  magistrates  to  see 
the  wholesome  laws  of  this  province  put  in  execution 
in  order  to  suppress  them  more  effectually. 

"  To  conclude  we  hope  your  excellency  will  not  take 
it  amiss  if  we  add  that  we  humbly  think  the  penalties 
annexed  to  some  laws  against  certain  sins,  particularly 
the  sin  of  fornication,  too  light  to  suppress  the  sin  ;  and 
your  excellency  would  be  pleased  to  propose  to  the 
honourable  house  of  delegates  that  they  would  seek  an 
expedient  against  the  damnable  sin  of  polygamy. 

u  The  growth  of  Popery  by  the  coming  of  so  many 
Priests  of  late,  and  the  abuse  dissenters  make  of  the 
indulgence  given  them  by  law,  we  humbly  propose  to 
your  excellency's  serious  consideration. 

"  As  to  the  last  particular  of  your  excellency's  pro- 
posals we  thankfully  embrace  it  and  have  unanimously 
made  choice  of  Mr.  Henry  Hall,  Mr.  Thos.  Cockshutt, 


THE  AMERICAS 


175 


Mr.  Joseph  Colbank,  Mr.  Jacob 
Sewell,  and  Mr.  Henry  Nicholls 
"  Your  excellency's  most 
11  Thomas  Baylye, 

Alexander  Williamson, 

Jacob  Henderson, 

Richard  Sewell, 

Thomas  Cockshutt, 

Jonathan  Cay, 

John  Donaldson, 

Joseph  Colebanch, 

Henry  Hall, 

Jonathan  White, 

Henry  Nicholls, 


Henderson,  Mr.  Richard 

to  consult  affairs. 

obed.  humb.  servants, 
Chris.  Wilkinson, 
R.  Owen, 
Henry  Jennings, 
J.  Fraser. 
James  Williamson, 
Thomas  Thompson, 
William  Tibbs, 
Robert  Scott, 
Daniel  Mainadier, 
Wm.  Machonchier." 


CAROLINA  AND  GEORGIA. 

An  Account  of  the  Churches  in  South  Carolina, 
by  Mr.  Woodmason,  in  1766. 

"  St.  Philip,  Charlestown. — This  church  is  allowed  to 
be  the  most  elegant  religious  edifice  in  British  America. 

"  In  this  church  is  a  good  organ  the  great  organ  has 
sixteen  stops,  the  choir  organ  8.  It  has  rich  pulpit 
cloths  and  coverings  for  the  altar  and  a  very  large  service 
of  plate. 

11  Divine  service  is  performed  here  with  great  decency 
and  order  both  on  holy  days  and  week  days. 

11  St.  Michael. — Is  a  new-built  church  on  the  model 
of  that  at  Greenwich.  It  has  eight  bells  :  a  noble  organ 
is  now  in  hand  and  to  be  sent  over.  The  plate  and  orna- 
ments of  the  church  are  superb.  Divine  service  is 
regularly  performed  on  Sundays,  holidays,  and  week 
days. 


1 76  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

11  St.  Andrew's  was  lately  consumed  by  fire,  but  is 
rebuilt  :  it  has  an  organ  :  there  is  a  chapel  of  ease. 

"  St.  George's. — A  very  handsome  brick  church  with 
steeple  and  four  bells  and  an  organ  :  an  endowed  free 
school  is  in  this  parish. 

"  St.  John's,  Berkely  county. — Burnt  and  not  yet 
rebuilt. 

"  There  is  a  chapel  of  ease  and  a  handsome  school 
with  a  house  and  an  endowment. 

"  Christ  Church,  St.  Thomas. — A  pretty  brick  building 
but  very  plain  :  is  a  good  church  :  has  a  chapel  of  ease 
and  a  public  school  well  endowed. 

"  St.  James'. — This  church  fell  into  decay  some  years 
ago  and  has  not  been  since  rebuilt  :  service  is  performed 
at  (what  was  formerly)  a  chapel  of  ease. 

u  St.  James' ',  Goose  Creek. — This  is  one  of  the  best 
country  churches  in  the  province  and  both  it  and  the 
parsonage  stand  by  the  bridge  :  the  minister  is  therefore 
daily  pestered  with  travellers  for  lodging  and  entertain- 
ment. 

"  St.  Matthew's. — Just  laid  out  no  buildings  or  glebe. 

"  St.  Helena,  in  the  town  of  Beaufort:  the  second 
town  in  the  province,  the  meanest  church  in  it. 

"  Prince  William. — The  second  best  church  in  the 
province  :  it  is  beautifully  pewed  and  ornamented. 

"  Prince  George. — The  pulpit  and  pews  well  executed 
but  the  altar  piece  is  not  yet  up.     Here  is  a  free  school. 

"  The  other  churches  are  all  timber  buildings  :  the 
parsonage  houses  of  most  are  of  brick  the  glebes  of  St. 
Andrew's  St.  George  and  St  Stephen's  are  valuable. 

"  In  Charlestown  a  public  provincial  school  endowed 
with  £100  sterling  per  annum. 

"  The  free-masons  and  other  public  societies  maintain 
charity  schools.     So  that  there  is  not  a  beggar  in  the 


THE  AMERICAS  177 

province  :  every  parish  maintains  its  own  poor  :  but  there 
are  few  or  none  out  of  Charles  town. 

"  Augusta  is  a  town  high  up  on  the  river  Savannah  : 
a  place  of  great  resort  for  trade  with  Indians. 

"  The  reason  why  no  more  Parishes  are  laid  out  arises 
from  political  motives  as  it  would  increase  the  number 
of  assembly  men  ;  which  place  is  so  troublesome  and  ex- 
pensive that  few  are  to  be  found  at  an  election  to  under- 
take it. 

"  Beside  the  two  episcopal  churches  in  Charlestown 
there  are  a  Presbyterian  meeting,  the  minister  of  the 
kirk  of  Scotland  and  acting  by  the  model  of  the  Direc- 
tory. 

"  2,  and  Independent  meeting  in  Alliance  with  those  of 
new  England. 

"  A  Baptist  meeting  in  harmony  with  those  of  Penn- 
sylvania. 

"  A  Quaker  meeting  ditto. 

"  (X.B. — There  are  but  two  or  three  Quakers  in  town 
so  no  congregation  of  them.) 

"  An  Arian  meeting  acting  on  Whishton's  system  and 
principles  :  there  are  but  few  members  but  it  is  well 
endowed. 

u  (N.B. — All  the  teachers  of  these  meetings  wear  gowns 
and  have  good  salaries  paid  them  by  their  respective  con- 
gregations.) 

"  A  Dutch  Lutheran  church  service  is  performed  here 
in  the  German  tongue.  It  has  an  organ  :  the  pastor 
officiates  in  his  surplice  and  cope,  after  the  manner  of 
the  Danish  church  in  Well  close  square. 

"  A  French  Calvinist  Church :  service  is  performed  in 
the  French  tongue  after  the  Geneva  pattern  :  it  has  but 
a  small  congregation  but  is  rich  and  well  endowed. 

"  8.  A  Jews'  synagogue. 

12 


178  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

"  There  are  very  few  communicants  in  any  congrega- 
tion :  which  is  partly  owing  to  the  false  zeal  of  the  Pres- 
byterians who  by  forcing  their  people  indiscriminately 
to  the  holy  ordinance  have  made  more  dissenters  than 
volunteers  in  the  cause  of  religion. 

"  The  Province  of  Georgia  is  laid  out  into  Districts  or 
Parishes  and  that  is  all. 

11  The  church  in  Savannatown  is  mean." 

NORTH  CAROLINA. 

"  A  church  was  founded  at  Wilmington  in  1753. 

"  East  Florida  consists  only  of  one  town. 

"  St.  Augustine  s  :  it  is  tolerable  well  built  after  the 
Spanish  manner  the  town  is  one  of  the  healthiest  in 
America.  Everything  is  very  dear  it  receives  all  its 
supplies  from  Charlestown.  There  are  two  chapels  but 
quite  naked  the  Spaniards  having  stripped  them  of  every- 
thing." 

The  Sermon  was  too  Long. 

"  Mobille  is  a  fort.  There  was  a  clergyman  there  once 
when  the  General  Congress  with  the  Indians  was  held  ; 
and  at  their  departure  the  clergyman  gave  them  a 
sermon  :  the  interpreter  explaining  his  words  to  them 
sentence  by  sentence.  The  Indian  chief  was  very  atten- 
tive and  after  dinner  asked  the  preacher  Mr.  Harte 
where  this  great  warrior  God  Almighty  which  he  talked 
so  much  of  lived  ?  and  if  he  was  a  friend  of  his  Brother 
George  over  the  great  water. 

"  Mr.  Harte  then  expatiated  on  the  Being  of  God  and 
His  attributes  ;  but  could  not  instil  any  sentiments  into 
the  Indian  or  bring  him  to  any  the  least  comprehension 
of  matters  :  and  dwelt  so  long  on  his  subject  as  to  tire 
the  patience  of  the  savage,  who  at  length  took  Mr. 


THE  AMERICAS  179 

Harte  by  the  hand  with  one  of  his,  and  filling  out  a  glass 
of  Rum  with  the  other,  concluded  with  saying  : 

"  '  Beloved  man  I  will  always  think  well  ol  this 
friend  of  ours  God  Almighty  whom  you  tell  me  so  much 
of,  and  so  let  us  drink  His  health  ';  and  then  drank  off 
his  glass  of  rum." 

A  Long  Voyage. 

A  missionary  writes  from  Purisburg,  South  Carolina  : 
"  We  have  been  near  six  months  on  our  passage  and 
the  victuals  perished  the  last  two  months,  during  which 
time  we  had  but  half  a  biscuit  per  day  for  one  person 
without  meat  and  only  one  pint  of  water,  and  it  was  so 
corrupted  that  it  could  be  smelt  from  one  end  of  the 
vessel  to  the  other.  We  have  been  two  months  before 
Halifax,  but  it  was  not  in  our  power  to  enter  in,  our 
vessel  was  leaking  and  took  so  much  quantity  of  water 
that  we  were  obliged  to  pump  day  and  night  continually 
without  exception,  the  captain  let  the  ship  drive  with 
the  winds  and  storms." 

Meat  and  Drink. 

Another  missionary  writes : 

"  The  victuals  of  the  country  are  not  less  hard  than 
the  climate.  The  bread  is  made  of  Indian  corn,  boiled 
in  water  :  and  we  have  but  once  a  week  fresh  beef  but 
the  heat  is  so  great  that  it  can  be  made  use  of  but  one 
day,  we  have  no  other  liquor  but  rum  we  mix  it  with 
water,  a  pernicious  liquor  that  kills  many  that  drink  to 
excess. 

"  The  Parish  I  serve  is  vastly  large  it  contains  about 
two  hundred  miles  in  circuit,  one  Plantation  is  far  from 
another  about  ten  miles. 

12 — 2 


i8o 


THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 


11  The  road  is  very  often  my  stable  it  is  a  cause  why 
few  people  come  to  church  on  Sunday  :  it  is  the  cause 
that  almost  every  day  I  am  called  in  every  part  of  the 
county  for  the  busines  of  my  ministry.  I  have  often 
been  in  great  danger  to  lose  my  life  on  the  road. 

"  I  preach  and  strive  daily  as  much  as  possible 
to  bring  all  the  poor  lost  sheep  under  one  crook.  I 
preach  English  for  the  English  people  and  in  the  French 
tongue  for  the  French  people.  My  time  is  entirely 
taken  up  sometimes  I  am  fasting  since  the  morning  till 
the  night. 

"  J.  Adam  de  Martel. 

"  itfh  July,  1769." 


Prices  in  Carolina,  1718. 

"  Prices  current  of  some  necessaries  in  Carolina 
May  15th  1718.  (The  money  of  Carolina  is  at  present 
very  bad  one  hundred  pounds  of  it  being  not  equal  to 
twenty  pounds  sterling  :  I  have  added  the  prices  current 
of  some  necessaries  whereby  your  lordship  may  judge  of 
its  real  value. — Wrodwell  Bull.) 


"  candles  per  pound 
Soape  per  pound 
Wheaton  flour  per  hundred 
Cheese  Carolina  make  per  pound 
Ditto  English  per  pound 
Butter  salt  per  pound 
Ditto  fresh  per  pound 
Beef  per  hundred 
Mutton  veal  and  pork  per  pound 
Shoes  Carolina  make  per  pair 
Ditto  English 

Black  worsted  stockings  per  pair 
hatts  of  about  8s.  6d.  in  England  here  at 
Black    cloth    of    about    12s.    per    yard    in 

England  is  here 
The    making    of    a    coat,    wastcoat,    and 
breeches  is  here 


d. 

6 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
6 
o 

3 
o 
o 
o 
o 


7  10    o 


10    o    o 


THE  AMERICAS  181 


Patronage,  1640. 

"  Whereas  divers  and  sundry  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Lower  end  of  Piscataqua, 

M  Do  give  grant  aliene  and  set  over  unto  Thomas 
Walford  and  Henry  Sherburn  Church  Wardens  of  this 
Parish,  and  their  successors,  the  Parsonage  house, 
chappell,  field  garden  glebe  lands  with  appurtenances 
thereof. 

"  Mr.  Richard  Gibson  to  be  the  first  parson  of  the  said 
parsonage  but  when  it  became  void  the  election  to  and 
remain  in  the  power  of  the  said  Parishioners  or  the 
greater  part  of  them  for  ever.  Given  under  our  hands 
and  seals  this  25  day  of  May  1640  in  the  16th  year  of 
our  sovereign  Lord  Charles  by  the  Grace  of  God  King  of 
England  &c. 

u  Francis  Williams.  William  Berry. 

Ambros  Gibson.  John  Pickrin. 

William  Jones.  John  Billing. 

Renald  Furnill.  John  Wotten. 

John  Crowther.  Nichs.  Roe. 

Michll.  Chatterton.  Anton  Brackett. 

John  Wall.  Matt.  Roe. 

Robert  Pudington.  Wm.  Palmer. 

Henry  Sherburn.  Richard  Cutt. 

John  Landen.  Richd.  Cummins. 

Henry  Taylor.  Wm.  Fryer. 

John  Jones.  James  Pendleton. 
"  True  copy  test.  Joth.  Peirce, 

"  Town  Clerk. 
"  18  Feb.,  1724-5. " 


1 82  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

The  following  are  now  amusing  instances  of  the  past. 
They  are  dogmatic,  and  serve  as  relics  and  reminders 
lest  we  fall  again  into  the  same  spirit  of  envy,  hatred, 
malice,  and  all  uncharitableness,  from  which  good  Lord 
deliver  us,  is  the  prayer  of  every  English-speaking 
Churchman  to-day. 

Religious  Discipline,  1698. 

In  small  crabbed  letters  is  a  quaint  form  of  excom- 
munication used  at  "  the  Boston  church."  It  was  sent 
to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Miles  in  1698.  It  is  an  original,  for- 
warded by  him  to  the  Bishop. 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  church  in  the  south  end  of 
Boston  Jan.  22,  1698  Roger  Ind  was  called  for  and  not 
appearing  his  case  was  represented  as  followeth, 

"  On  Oct.  15,  1697  having  been  informed  that  the  said 
Brother  Ind  was  resolved  to  desert  this  church  on  some 
disgust  taken  I  requested  Deacon  Keary  and  Deacon 
Williams  to  signify  to  him  how  disorderly  it  would  be 
for  him  so  to  do  and  the  sacrament  being  to  be  adminis- 
tered the  next  day  and  some  brethren  having  been  dis- 
satisfied at  something  of  his  carriage  at  a  meeting  of  the 
church  some  time  before  I  desired  them  to  tell  him  from 
me  that  there  was  no  scandal  alledged  against  him  so 
as  that  the  church  would  renounce,  and  to  which  they 
report  that  he  answered  that  if  the  church  did  not 
renounce  communion  with  him  he  renounced  it  with  them 
and  would  come  at  them  no  more  or  words  to  that 
purpose. 

"  He  accordingly  withdrew  from  the  communion,  and 
ceased  from  assembling  with  us  in  the  public  worship  of 
God  for  a  considerable  time.  And  I  had  reports  that 
he  pretended  reasons  which  carried  matter  of  scandal  in 


KING   GEORGE    II. 
From  the  Letters  Patent  to  the  Bishop  of  London. 


THE  AMERICAS  183 

them.  I  thereupon  thought  it  a  duty  to  enquire  into  it 
and  accordingly  desired  that  he  might  be  named  to  meet 
me  at  Captain  Sewals  on  Dec.  13. 

11  Captain  Sewal  was  desired  to  notify  it  to  him  and 
reports  that  he  refused  it,  but  said  that  he  would  tarry 
at  home  till  the  time  appointed  that  if  I  had  anything 
to  say  to  him  I  might  come  to  his  house,  and  have  oppor- 
tunity but  as  to  my  authority  as  an  officer  he  acknow- 
ledged it  not  nor  would  comply  with  it.  I  went  at  the 
time  appointed  and  Deacon  Keary  met  us  there  whom  I 
desired  to  call  him  and  acquaint  him  that  if  I  had  any 
reasonable  offence  against  him  it  was  my  duty  to  come 
to  him  but  I  had  none,  but  it  was  a  public  scandal  in 
which  the  church  was  concerned  and  it  belonged  to  my 
office  that  I  should  enquire  into  it  for  which  reason  I 
called  for  him.  The  answer  returned  by  Mr.  Fran's 
report  was  that  his  house  was  his  castle  ;  if  I  had  any- 
thing to  say  I  must  come,  but  it  must  be  alone  and  if  I 
brought  any  with  me  he  would  refuse  to  speak  to  me, 
but  as  for  coming  to  me  as  an  officer  he  should  not  for 
he  neither  acknowledged  me  to  be  so  to  him,  nor  the 
church  at  which  I  was  to  have  anything  to  do  with  him. 

"  On  this  I  sent  for  Brother  J.  Wheeler  and  desired 
him  to  go  with  Deacon  Keary  and  deliver  the  same 
message  to  him  who  went  and  returned  with  the  same 
answer. 

"  Whereupon  I  thought  it  necessary  to  refer  it  to  the 
cognizance  of  the  church  and  accordingly  desired 
Captain  Savage,  and  Captain  Checkley  on  Jan.  17  to 
warn  him  to  appear  before  you  this  day  except  [indis- 
tinct word]  the  next  day  Jan.  18  come  to  Captain  Sewal's 
on  a  private  enquiry  who  were  no  better  treated  as  they 
say  but  all  was  refused  by  him. 

"  Roger  Ind  not  appearing  to  make  any  reply  to  these 


1 84  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

allegations  and  the  Brethren  named  giving  their  testi- 
mony to  the  several  allegations  before  mentioned  I  gave 
my  sense  of  the  case  in  the  following  words  : 

"  '  The  matter  of  the  offence  is  not  his  going  off  from 
the  church  for  we  acknowledge  there  is  a  lawfulness  to 
do  so  provided  it  be  orderly  but  the  manner  of  it.  I 
know  none  of  any  persuasion  but  reckon  that  there  is  a 
discipline  appointed  by  Christ  in  his  Churches  and  a 
person  who  is  orderly  become  a  member  of  one  Church 
is  liable  to  be  proceeded  with  in  way  of  discipline  in  the 
Church  till  he  orderly  removes  his  immediate  relation  to 
another.  I  know  no  Church  that  will  admit  a  member 
of  another  church  which  they  hold  communion  withal 
who  renounces  communion  with  the  church  that  he  was 
of  and  asks  it  of  them  until  they  have  enquired  into  the 
matter. 

" '  I  never  did  determine  the  nature  of  the  offence 
which  this  Brother  was  called  to  answer  for  but  only 
intended  to  enquire  into  it  that  the  scandal  might  be 
removed  according  to  the  order  of  the  gospell  determine 
that  whether  the  scandal  foregoing  were  given  or  only 
taken  yet  that  man  contumely  utterly  refuseth  to  com- 
ply with  the  Gospel  orders  and  instead  of  that  renounceth 
all  authority  to  which  he  before  submitted  himself 
solemnly  of  his  own  accord  and  desire  is  under  that 
qualification  Matt,  xviii.  that  he  will  not  hear  the 
church  and  accordingly  to  be  looked  on  as  an  heathen 
and  publican,  and  when  patience  and  lenity  hath  been 
used  with  him  if  he  persists  and  grows  more  resolved  in 
it  he  deserves  to  be  cut  from  the  communion  of  such  a 
church  and  if  no  acts  pass  of  this  nature  he  may  at 
pleasure  come  and  communicate  with  us  at  the  Lord's 
table  which  cannot  but  be  an  offence  to  all  that  rightly 
understand  the  case. 


THE  AMERICAS  185 

"  '  The  sum  of  the  offence  is  that  having  declared  his 
renouncing  of  communion  with  this  church  and  accord- 
ingly departed  it  he  refused  to  give  an  account  of  it  when 
orderly  called  to  it  and  declared  that  he  neither  owned 
himself  subject  to  the  minister  nor  the  church  which 
amounts  to  contumacy/ 

"  It  was  hereupon  voted  and  consented  to  that  for 
this  offence  our  Brother  Roger  Ind  be  put  from  the  com- 
munion of  this  church  and  be  made  incapable  of  fellow- 
ship in  all  the  ordinances  of  the  gospel  with  them,  till 
God  shall  give  him  repentance. 

11  Which  sentence  was  accordingly  declared. 
"  By  me, 

11  Saml.  Willard, 

"  Teacher." 

u  To  the  very  Hon' Me  William  Dummer  esq.  Lieutenant 
Governor  and  Commander  in  chief  &c.  to  the  hon'ble 
the  councellours  to  the  honoured  the  representatives 
in  the  Great  and  General  court  of  his  majesty's  pro- 
vince of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  assembled  and  now 
sitting. 

u  A  memorial  and  address  humbly  presented 
"  At  a  General  convention  of  Ministers  from  several 
parts  of  the  Province  of  Boston  May  27th  1725. 

"  Considering  the  great  and  visible  decay  of  piety  in 
the  country  and  the  growth  of  many  miscarriages  which 
we  may  fear  have  provoked  the  glorious  Lord,  in  a  series 
of  various  judgments  wonderfully  to  distress  us  ;  con- 
sidering also  the  laudable  example  of  our  Predecessors 
to  recover  and  establish  the  faith  and  order  of  the 
Gospel  in  the  Churches  and  provide  against  what  im- 
moralities might  threaten  to  impare  them,  in  the  way  of 


1 86  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

General  synods  convened  for  that  purpose  ;  and  con- 
sidering that  about  forty  and  five  years  have  now  rolled 
away  since  these  churches  have  seen  any  such  conven- 
tions :  It  is  humbly  desired  that  the  Honoured  General 
Court  would  express  their  concern  for  the  great  interests 
of  religion  in  the  country  by  calling  the  several  churches 
in  the  province  to  meet  by  their  pastors  and  messengers 
in  Synod,  and  from  thence  offer  their  advice  upon  that 
weighty  case  which  the  circumstances  of  the  day  do 
loudly  call  to  be  considered. 

"  What  are  the  miscarriages  whereof  we  have  reason  to 
think  the  Judgment  of  heaven  now  upon  us  call  us  to  be 
more  generally  sensible  and  what  may  be  the  most 
evangelical  and  effectual  expedients  to  put  a  stop  to 
these  and  the  like  miscarriages  ?  This  proposal  we 
humbly  make  in  hopes  that  if  it  be  prosecuted,  it  may 
be  followed  with  many  desirable  consequences  worthy 
the  study  of  those  whom  God  has  made  and  we  are 
so  happy  as  to  enjoy  as  the  nursing  Fathers  of  our 
churches. 

"  Cotton  Mather 
11  (in  the  name  of  the  Ministers 

assembled  in  their  General 

Convention). 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  Danforth,  Mr.  Williams,  Mr.  Sewall, 
and  Mr.  Thayer  are  desired  to  present  this  Memorial." 

(Manuscript  note  :  "  This  has  been  printed  in  some  of 
the  News  Papers  ;  both  at  Boston  and  London.") 

"  In  Council  June  3rd  1725  Read  and  voted  that  the 
Synod  and  Assembly  proposed  in  this  Memorial  will  be 
agreeable  to  this  Board,  and  that  the  reverend  ministers 
are  desired  to  take  their  own  time  for  the  said  Assembly, 
and  it  is  earnestly  wished  the  issue  thereof  may  be  a 


THE  AMERICAS  187 

happy  Reformation  in  the  articles  of  a  Christian  life 
among  his  Majesty's  good  subjects  of  this  Province. 
"  Sent  down  for  concurrence. 

"  J.  Willard,  Sec'y." 

11  In  the  House  of  Representatives  June  nth  1725 
Read  and  referred  to  the  next  session  for  further  con- 
sideration. 

"  Sent  up  for  concurrence. 

"  William  Dudley,  Speaker/' 

u  In  Council  June  19th  1725  Read  and  concurred. 

"  J.  Willard,  Seafy." 
(Manuscript  note,  in  margin  opposite  "  June  3rd," 
etc.  :  "  These  subsequent  votes  have  not  been  printed.") 

"  The  memorial  of  Timothy  Cutler,  Samuel  Myles 
.  .  .  ministers  of  the  established  Church  of  England  in 
Boston  humbly  presented  to  the  Hon'ble  William 
Dummer  esq.,  Lieuten.  Governour  of  his  Majesty's 
Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay ;  the  Hon'ble  His 
Majesty's  Council  and  representatives  of  the  said  Pro- 
vince in  Genera]  Court  assembled  this  10th  day  of  June 

1725. 

"  Whereas  we  are  informed  that  a  memorial  has  been 
presented  to  this  honoured  Court,  and  that  the  Prayer 
of  it  hath  already  been  granted  by  the  Hon'ble  His 
Majesty's  Council  and  is  now  depending  in  the  House  of 
Representatives. 

u  Therefore  We  humbly  beg  Leave  to  offer  the  follow- 
ing reasons  against  the  said  Memorial  : 

"1.  The  matter  of  the  Petition  being  general,  respecting 
the  Miscarriages  of  the  whole  body  of  People  in  this  land, 
it  is  presumed  to  comprehend  the  Churches  of  England, 
wherein  the  Petitioners  have  no  right  to  intermeddle. 


1 88  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

u  2.  Whereas  by  the  Tenour  of  the  petition  which  is 
to  revive  decaying  piety,  in  conformity  to  the  Faith  and 
Order  of  the  Gospel  ;  In  Explication  of  which  terms  the 
Petitioners  referthis  Hon'bleCourt  to  a  time  (45  years  ago) 
when  there  was  no  Church  of  England  in  New  England  : 
we  therefore  apprehend  that  the  Synod  petitioned  for  is 
designed  to  prejudice  the  people  of  this  land  against  the 
said  Church,  and  we  have  little  reason  to  expect,  that  in 
such  a  Synod  She  will  be  treated  with  that  tenderness 
and  respect  which  is  due  to  an  established  church. 

"  3.  As  the  Episcopal  ministers  in  this  Province  are 
equally  concerned  with  the  Petition  for  the  Purity  of  the 
faith  and  manners  in  this  land,  it  is  disrespectful  to  them 
not  to  be  consulted  in  this  important  affair. 

"  4.  Whereas  it  is  desired  that  the  several  churches  in 
the  Province  do  meet,  &c.  It  is  either  an  hard  reflection 
upon  the  episcopal  churches  as  none  in  not  including 
them  ;  and  if  they  are  included,  we  think  it  very  im- 
proper, It  being  without  the  knowledge  of  their  right 
reverend  Diocesan  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London. 

"5.  Whereas  by  Royal  authority  the  colonies  in 
America  are  annexed  to  the  Diocese  of  London  and 
inasmuch  as  nothing  can  be  transacted  in  ecclesiastical 
matters  without  the  cognizance  of  the  Bishop,  We 
are  humbly  of  opinion  that  it  will  neither  be  dutiful  to 
his  most  sacred  Majesty  King  George,  not  consistent 
with  the  rights  of  our  right  reverend  Diocesan,  to  en- 
courage or  call  the  said  Synod  until  the  pleasure  of  his 
Majesty  shall  be  known  therein. 

I#  We  humbly  pray  this  hon'ble  court  to  take  the 
premises  into  their  serious  consideration. 

"  Timothy  Cutler. 
"  Samuel  Myles." 


THE  AMERICAS  189 

11  In  the^House  of  Representatives  June  nth 
1725  Read. 

11  In  Council  June  14th  1725  Read. 

"  22nd  Read  again  and 

"  Whereas  the  Memorial  contains  an  indecent  reflec- 
tion on  the  Proceedings  of  this  Board  with  several 
groundless  insinuations,  voted,  it  be  dismissed. 

11  Sent  down  for  concurrence. 

"  J.  Willard,  Seafy." 

"  In  the  House  of  Representatives  June  23rd 
1725  Read  and  concurred. " 

(Note  in  margin  :  "  This  has  not  been  printed  in  any 
of  the  News  Papers  neither  in  N.  England  nor  in  London 
and  is  a  curiosity  that  may  be  acceptable  to  many 
readers.") 

11  May  it  please  Your  Lordship — 

"  I  most  humbly  beg  leave  to  lay  before  you  the 
acts  of  the  last  session  of  the  General  Court  here  among 
which  are  two  directly  tending  (and  I  believe  calculated) 
to  hinder  the  growth  of  the  Church  of  England  in  these 
parts. 

11  They  have  specious  titles  each.  The  one  (in  p.  380) 
entitled  An  act  for  the  better  observance  and  keeping  of 
the  Lords  day.  The  other  (on  p.  383)  intitled  an  act  for 
the  settlement  and  support  of  ministers. 

"  Permit  me  my  lord  to  make  a  few  remarks  relating 
to  matters  of  fact.  There  are  but  a  few  churches  (at  a 
great  distance  from  each  other)  in  this  great  country  ; 
and  the  churchmen  being  dispersed  throughout  the  whole 
territory  they  are  obliged  (some  of  them)  to  ride  30  or 
40  miles  to  partake  of  the  holy  sacreament. 

"  It  is  moreover  usual  for  the  churchpeople  to  walk  or 


I9Q  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

ride  6,  8,  or  10  miles  upon  the  Saturday  evening  or  very 
early  on  the  Sunday  morning  to  the  town  where  the 
Church  of  England  is  settled,  and  to  return  home  again 
on  the  Sunday  evening. 

"  But  if  a  stop  is  not  put  to  the  first  law,  they  will  be 
obliged  to  spend  the  greater  part  of  Saturday  and 
Monday  in  going  (for  all  will  not  be  able  to  keep  horse) 
in  riding  to  church  and  returning  home.  But  this  will 
be  verj'  hard  upon  poor  people  who  are  generally  the 
husbandmen  &c. 

"  There  are  but  five  towns  wherein  the  church  is  settled 
viz.  Boston,  Newbury,  Mablehead,  Bristol  and  Brantry 
tho  there  are  a  130  towns  in  this  province  as  may  be  seen 
by  p.  396  of  the  acts.  But  all  the  churchmen  throughout 
the  whole  country  are  to  be  taxed  toward  the  support 
of  the  Congregational  Ministry  unless  their  habitations 
are  within  five  miles  of  some  church  either  in  their  own 
or  some  neighbouring  town.  This  is  something  specious. 
For  five  miles  from  the  church  one  way  and  five  miles 
the  other  and  so  all  round  forms  a  circle  whose  diameter 
shall  be  ten  miles.  This  would  be  thought  a  large  Parish 
in  England.     But  my  lord  the  fallacy  lies  here. 

"  The  townships  in  New  England  are  (many  of  them) 
8  some  10  and  others  twelve  miles  square.  One  is  20 
miles  square.  The  place  for  public  worship  is  generally 
nearest  the  centre,  the  inhabitants  dwelling  round 
about  it,  the  outskirts  of  the  township  being  for  the 
most  part  uncultivated  land.  Moreover  the  five  towns 
in  which  the  church  is  settled  in  this  province  are 
bounded  on  one  side  by  the  sea.  By  the  last  act  of  the 
two  above  recited  the  Congregational  assemblies  are 
called  the  Churches  established  by  law.  In  the  Act  of 
Union  the  Church  of  England  is  established  in  all  his 
Majesty's  territories  (Scotland  only  excepted). 


THE  AMERICAS  191 

11  By  the  Charter  of  this  Province  Liberty  of  Con- 
science is  granted  to  all  Christians  (except  Papists)  in- 
habiting here  ;  and  the  General  Court  is  expressly  in- 
hibited from  making  any  laws  repugnant  to  the  Laws  of 
England  and  toward  the  latter  end  of  the  Charter  are 
these  words  viz.  '  And  we  do  for  all  of  us  our  heirs  and 
successors  establish  and  ordain  that  the  said  orders  laws, 
statutes  and  ordinance  be  by  the  first  opportunity  after 
the  making  the  same  sent  or  transmitted  to  us  our  heirs 
and  successors  under  the  public  seal  to  be  appointed  by  us 
for  our  or  their  approbation  or  disallowance.  And  that 
in  case  all  or  any  of  them  shall  at  any  time  within  the 
space  of  three  years  next  after  the  same  shall  have  been 
presented  to  us,  our  heirs  and  successors  in  our  or  their 
privy  council  be  disallowed  and  so  rejected  and  so  signi- 
fied by  us  our  heirs  and  successors  under  our  or  their 
sign  manual,  signed  or  by  order  in  our  or  their  privy 
council  unto  the  Governour  for  the  time  being  then  such 
and  so  many  of  them  as  shall  be  so  disallowed  and  re- 
jected shall  forthwith  cease  determine  and  become  utterly 
void  and  of  none  effect. 

11  '  Provided  always  that  in  case  we  our  heirs  and  suc- 
cessors shall  not  within  the  term  of  three  years  after  the 
presenting  of  such  orders  Laws  statutes  and  ordinances 
as  aforesaid  signify  our  or  their  disallowance  of  the  said 
orders  statutes  and  ordinances  shall  be  and  continue  in 
full  force  and  effect  according  to  the  true  intent  and 
meaning  of  the  same  until  the  expiration  thereof  or  that 
that  same  shall  be  repealed  by  the  General  Assembly 
of  our  said  province  for  the  time  being.' 

11  Thus  far  the  Charter.  But  we  have  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  many  of  the  Laws  of  this  Province  have  never 
been  presented  according  to  the  directions  given  in  the 
Charter.     Otherwise  (it  is  humbly  conceived)  they  would 


192  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

have  been  most  certainly  immediately  disallowed.  As 
we  hope  these  two  Laws  will  be  ;  the  Church  people 
throughout  the  whole  country  being  in  the  utmost  con- 
sternation about  them. 

"  One  of  the  rev.  Mr.  Miller's  hearers  and  communi- 
cants who  lives  about  eleven  miles  from  the  church  at 
Branbry  had  three  warrants  served  upon  him  on  Friday 
the  22nd  instant,  and  was  then  brought  down  to  Boston 
to  be  committed  to  the  common  Goal ;  and  the  con- 
stable threatens  to  bring  the  Father  of  the  same  man 
down  next  Tuesday  in  order  for  commitment.  They 
threaten  the  churchmen  all  over  the  country  affirming 
themselves  to  be  as  firmly  established  as  the  Church  of 
England  and  that  we  are  the  Dissenters  here. 

"  And  though  they  boast  that  they  have  now  fully 
effected  all  that  was  to  have  been  done  by  the  Synod  ; 
yet  the  remembrance  of  your  Lordships  seasonable  and 
happy  interposition  in  procuring  that  never-to-be- 
forgotten  letter  from  their  excellencies  the  Lords  Jus- 
tices gives  the  churchmen  good  ground  for  hope  that  the 
independents  will  as  soon  find  themselves  mistaken  in 
this  case  likewise  ;  and  that  they  will  not  be  permitted 
to  satiate  themselves  and  glut  their  eyes  with  seeing  the 
church  fall  a  sacrifice  to  appease  the  manes  of  their 

defeated  Synod. 

"  John  Checkley. 
"Boston,  New  England, 
"March  31,  1728." 


VIII 
PAPERS  QUOTED  AT  RICHMOND 

Extract  from  a  Letter,  Dated  "The  Falls, 
April  6,  1679." 

AND  to  my  Lord  of  London,  who  (as  I  am 
informed  by  Captain  Bird,  a  gentleman  to 
whom  I  am  many  ways  besides  this  exceedingly 
obliged)  has  thereupon  effectually  recommended  to 
my  Lord  Culpepper,  whose  arrival  not  only  I,  but 
all  men  also  that  love  peace,  and  a  Settlement  of 
affairs  impatiently  desire.  Col.  Jeffries  died  not  long 
since,  and  this  Country  that  little  time  I  have  been  in 
it  has  been  much  infested  by  its  barbarous  Enemies 
the  Natives,  not  our  Neighbours  but  some  from  the 
Northward,  who  (as  the  Goths  and  Vandals  and  other 
Northern  People  have  done  before  them)  come  to  the 
Southward  to  seek  themselves  better  Habitations, 
plundering  and  destroying  all  as  well  Indians  as  English, 
Dutch  or  French  that  lie  in  their  way,  and  are  unprovided 
for  them.  Last  summer  they  made  several  Invasions 
among  the  inhabitants  on  the  Roads  of  Rapahannock, 
York,  and  Our  (i.e.)  James  River ;  destroying  their 
cattle,  rifling  their  houses,  and  killing  and  carrying  away 
some  Families.  But  tho'  wTe  were  sufferers  in  our  Stocks 
and  Crops,  and  some  by  the  loss  of  household  goods 
also,  yet  (blessed  be  God)  none  of  us  lost  our  lives.     One 

i93  13 


194  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

Coll.  Epes  indeed  was  killed  who  with  some  Forces  raised 
in  Our,  i.e.  Henrico  County,  came  in  pursuit  of  them 
two  days  after  the  mischief  was  done.  They  found 
them  shut  up  in  a  Cornfield  belonging  to  the  Upper 
Plantation,  on  the  North-side  of  the  River,  and  had  they 
been  but  half  so  courageous  as  they  were  cautious  might 
have  cut  them  all  off  together.  But  whilst  one  durst 
not  shoot  nor  the  other  for  want  of  extent  of  Com'ission, 
and  for  fear  of  breach  of  Peace,  out  got  the  Indians, 
gain  the  clear'd  ground  and  fire  on  them.  The  Coll. 
paid  dear  for  his  deliberation,  he  was  shot  in  the  throat  by 
an  Indian  at  least  200  paces  distant.  We  lost  another 
stout  man  at  the  same  time,  one  Major  Harris,  who  rashly 
pursuing  the  flying  Enemy  with  a  Pistol  only  in  his  hand, 
and  that  too  discharged  was  shot  and  died  a  martyr  to 
his  foolhardiness.  The  Indian  that  shot  him  was  kill'd, 
and  one  woman  taken  prisoner,  the  rest  escaped  over 
the  River,  and  in  their  way  were  foul  of  the  Aspamma- 
tocko,  a  Town  seated  on  the  Southern  branch  of  our 
River  bearing  that  name.  They  attempted  likewise  the 
Ockanigee  Island,  and  destroyed  a  town  or  two  farther 
up  Roannoah  River  ;  and  are  we  hear  now  seated  on  the 
Other  side  the  Mountains  ;  tho'  some  and  that  with 
probability  enough  conjecture,  they  are  forted  in,  in  a 
large  Island  at  the  foot  of  the  Mountains,  on  our  River 
about  150  miles  from  the  Falls.  This  spring  another 
party  of  them  follow'd,  and  in  Rapahannock  set  upon 
one  Capt.  Roult  who  with  10  men  ranging  the  woods  in 
discovery  of  a  track  that  had  been  seen,  unfortunately 
fell  among  them  ;  he  charged  through  and  through,  and 
got  off,  but  with  the  loss  of  three  of  his  men,  and  two 
more  wounded.  This  has  alarmed  us,  and  we  are  in  a 
posture  of  defence,  daily  expecting  them  in  those  parts. 
This  is  a  Country  excellently  well  watered  and  so  fertile 


PAPERS  QUOTED  AT  RICH  MO  XI)  195 

that  it  does  or  might  be  made  yield  anything  that  may 
conduce  to  the  pleasure  or  necessity  of  life.  But  want  of 
Peace  too  much  land,  and  that  great  crop  of  Tobacco  men 
strive  to  make  hinders  Virginia  from  improving.  Sir 
Will.  Berkely  and  others  in  his  time  endeavour'd  some- 
thing at  the  Silk  Trade  :  but  that  of  Flaxe  I  believe  if 
once  introduced  would  in  a  small  time  turn  to  very  great 
account.  Our  clear'd  grounds  abound  with  a  sort  of 
Marsh-mallow,  whether  it  grows  below  in  the  Salts  I 
have  not  yet  had  any  convenience  of  informing  myself, 
however  from  its  likeness  I  will  presume  to  call  it 
Marsh-mallow:  Its  rind  or  peel  is  very  strong,  and  I 
am  confident  if  well  ordered  would  prove  excellent  for 
cordage. 

"  We  meet  with  also  frequently  enough  a  sort  of  Milky 
Plant  call'd  here  Silk-Grass.  The  peel  when  dry  and 
beaten  becomes  a  very  fine  Shining  Something  between 
hair  and  silk  ;  the  Indians  dye  it  of  several  colours  and 
weave  it  into  Baskets  and  Cohobbos,  a  thing  of  about 
a  hands  breadth  in  the  middle  which  comes  upon  their 
breast,  and  is  prettily  wrought,  terminating  in  two  long 
strings  with  which  they  bind  up  their  trunck  at  their 
backs, 

"  Of  this  well-spun  and  woven  Chamolet-wise  might 
be  made  a  very  neat  and  I  dare  say  lasting  stuff.  We 
sow  here  most  sorts  of  English  Grain  besides  those  proper 
to  the  Country,  as  Maize  of  which  there  are  divers  kinds, 
not  to  mention  its  accidental  differences  (if  they  are  no 
more)  I  mean  its  coloured,  red,  blue,  yellow,  white  and 
mixed  whereof  there  are  but  two  I  think  commonly 
planted  among  us  ;  the  one  we  call  Flint  corn  which  is 
of  a  rounder  form  and  harder  substance  ;  the  other  She 
Corn,  this  is  more  soft  and  feminine,  on  whose  Superficies 
Nature  has  impressed  the  signature  ?  .     The  Indians 

13—2 


196  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

have  two  sorts  more  of  Rath-ripe  Corn ;  the  ears  of  the 
lesser  sort  are  no  bigger  the  haft  of  a  knife,  and  its  stalks 
not  much  higher  than  one's  middle ;  of  these  they  can 
make  two  crops  in  a  year.  I  believe  they  might  find 
genial  heat  in  England  more  than  enough  to  bring  forth 
one.  Several  kinds  of  the  Phaseoli  and  other  Legumes  ; 
besides  Pumpkins  and  Marocks  of  several  sorts,  Musk 
and  Water-melons  which  are  a  large  very  pleasant  and 
innocent  fruit,  I  have  eaten  near  half  a  score  of  them  in 
an  afternoon.  Most  of  them  I  suppose  grow  naturally 
somewhere  or  other  in  this  Continent,  for  the  Natives 
had  them  before  this  was  a  Colony,  and  we  from  them. 
We  have  also  Potatoes — not  of  that  kind  you  call  Vir- 
ginianensis  which  is  erect :  ours  run  on  a  Vine  and  are 
the  same  they  plant  in  the  Barbados  :  we  bury  them 
near  our  hearths  to  keep  them  from  the  frost ;  the  great 
roots  we  eat,  reserving  the  little  ones  which  we  call 
Plantings  for  the  next  year's  increase. 

"  Of  our  Staple  Commodity  Tobacco  here  are  two 
kinds,  sweet-scented,  which  is  that  usually  piped  in 
England  :  It  is,  if  merchantable  of  a  bright  Nutmeg- 
Colour  ;  and  Arianocoe,  which  for  the  most  part  those  on 
our  River  plant.  The  best  of  this  which  is  large  and 
bright  almost  as  gold,  is  sent  into  England,  Holland  and 
other  Places  beyond  the  Seas  :  that  which  is  Dark  and 
not  fit  for  the  Market  we  sell  to  Irish  and  West  Country 
men,  or  to  the  Barbadians  for  Rum  and  Sugar.  Of  each 
of  these  there  are  many  kinds,  distinguishable  by  their 
leaves  and  known  to  the  Planter  by  such  odde  names 
Gardiners  give  their  Tulips  and  Ranunculus  as  Prior, 
old  Tom,  One  and  All,  &c.  My  little  experience  will 
not  let  me  say  more  of  this  at  present,  nor  much  of  the 
Indian  Trade  once  great  and  good,  now  dwindled  almost 
into  Nothing  through  the  jealousies  and  Panick  fears  of 


PAPERS  QUOTED  AT  RICHMOND  197 

a  Company,  I  had  almost  said  a  Country  of  Fools.  This 
tho'  it  be  esteemed  by  the  People  that  weigh  not  things 
aright,  the  great  cause  of  all  our  troubles  is,  if  rightly 
considered  our  Vinculum  Pacio.  For  since  there  has  been 
a  way  layd  open  for  Trade,  and  many  things  which  they 
wanted  not  before  because  the}7  never  had  them,  are 
by  that  means  become  necessary  both  for  their  use  and 
Ornament  if  Obstructions  be  made,  so  that  they  cannot 
supply  their  wants  by  Barter,  no  marvel  if  they  attempt 
to  do  it  by  force.  It  chiefly  consists  in  the  Furrs  of 
Beaver,  Otter,  Fox,  Cat,  Raccoon  and  Deer-skins.  It 
will  not  be  besides  my  purpose  if  I  say  something  of 
the  Oeconomy  of  the  Animal  first  mentioned. 

"  They  cohabit  and  build  themselves  houses  on  the 
Banks  of  Creeks,  dividing  them  into  partitions,  into  some 
of  which  the  water  flows,  which  by  building  a  damm 
below  they  keep  at  a  stay  tho'  the  Current  rise.  There 
is  one  among  them  the  Indians  call  Porerno,  the  Overseer 
of  the  gange,  whose  care  it  is  to  see  his  hands  mind  their 
Work,  which  is  falling  of  Saplings,  these  they  hale 
joyntly  to  their  house  or  dam,  the  overseer  walking  with 
them,  and  biting  or  lashing  forward  with  his  Tayl  those 
that  keep  not  up  and  bear  their  equal  weight.  Our  Fox 
is  something  less  than  yours,  but  better  furred,  it  lives 
not  in  holes  unless  those  of  Trees.  Our  Deer  skins  are 
very  good,  and  their  flesh  new  roasted  as  sweet  as 
mutton. 

"  From  the  time  that  Leaves  are  fallen  and  dry  till 
the  Spring  is  well  come  on,  the  Indians  catch  great 
quantities  of  them.  A  company  goe  out  and  fire  the 
Woods  in  a  Circle  of  four  or  five  miles  compass,  when 
they  have  compleated  the  Round  they  step  Ten  or 
Twelves  Paces  in,  each  at  his  due  distance,  and  put  fire 
to  the  Leaves  again  to  accelerate  the  Work,  this  they 


198  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

repeat  till  the  Circle  be  almost  closed,  and  they  see  their 
Game  together,  panting  and  almost  stifled  with  heat  and 
smoke,  then  they  fire  upon  them,  and  which  is  very 
strange,  tho'  they  stand  all  Round  clouded  with  Smoak, 
and  within  Shot  yet  they  never  hurt  each  other.  This 
they  call  fire  hunting.  We  have  here  also  (besides  our 
Tame  Breed  of  Cows  Horses  and  Hoggs)  Bears,  Panthers, 
Elks,  Possums,  a  sort  of  creature  with  a  false  belly, 
into  which  it  receives  its  Young  when  in  danger  ;  it 
hangs  by  its  Tayl,  and  is  frequently  shown  in  England 
for  a  sight.  Three  sorts  of  Squirrels,  Hedge-Conies  and 
other  Quadruped  Inhabitants  of  the  Woods.  Here  are 
some  Years  such  huge  flights  of  Pigeons  that  they  darken 
the  Sky,  the  Wind  of  their  Wings  is  like  the  rushing  of 
Waters,  and  they  sit  so  thick  on  the  Trees  they  alight, 
that  they  break  down  great  Limbs  with  their  Weight  ; 
And  store  of  Wild  Turkies  ;  I  have  heard  some  Old  men 
affirm  they  have  known  Cocks  weigh  60  lb.,  but  we  com- 
monly met  with  those  of  30  odd.  Besides  Water  Fowl 
of  many  kinds  as  Swans,  Geese,  Ducks  &c.  Our  Rivers 
abound  with  very  good  Fish,  Sturgeon,  Shads,  Herrings, 
Rocks  an  excellent  Fish,  Catts,  Garrs,  Perches,  &c. 
These  we  catch  in  the  Freshes ;  what  kinds  more  the  Salts 
yield,  I  am  yet  ignorant.  This  country  brings  forth 
multitudes  of  vegetables,  many  of  them  unknown  to  me  ; 
not  to  mention  Peaches  more  and  better  kinds  than  yours 
(tho'  they  might  be  reckoned  among  the  Spontanea  for 
the  same  Reason  Marocks  and  Melons  are  thought  so). 
Our  ground  naturally  and  in  great  plenty  produces  vines 
of  several  sorts,  of  which  here  has  been  made  very  good 
Wine  :  Mulberries  black  and  white  ;  the  Percimmon  a 
sort  of  fruit  between  the  Plum  and  Medlar.  It  is  a 
pleasant  Fruit  enough  when  rotten,  and  pleasanter  dried, 
but  green  it  is  of  an  exceeding  harsh  Tast  which  draws 


PAPERS  QUOTED  AT  RICHMOND  199 

the  Mouth  into  a  purse.  I  am  persuaded  twill  make  an 
excellent  Surfling  Water.  It  has  flat  brown  seeds  or 
kernels  which  when  cleaned  from  the  Pulp  you  would 
take  for  some  Legume  ;  its  outer  skin  is  very  tough,  but 
that  once  taken  off  it  opens  itself  flatwise,  like  the  Bean, 
into  two  Lobes,  between  which  lies  the  Tree  in  Embrio  : 
Not  as  grows  Plums,  in  a  plicature  of  Macroscopiral 
Leaves  but  with  a  solid  trunk  and  two  expanded  Similar 
Ones,  the  Print  of  whose  turgid  Veins  may  be  plainly 
seen  in  the  Cavity  of  the  Lobes  without  the  help  of  a 
glass.  Here  grows  also  the  Chinquapin  Bush.  The 
Black  Walnut  you  know  ;  the  Pirk-hinkkory  or  Hirkkory, 
its  leaves  are  like  those  of  the  Common  Walnut,  and  so 
is  its  fruit  but  much  harder.  Nine  or  Ten  kinds  of 
oak,  two  or  three  sorts  of  Laurustine,  one  very  elegant 
one  with  an  embossed  Flower  a  sort  of  Bay  I  sup- 
pose undescribed ;  Three  kinds  of  Lady-slipper,  we  call 
them  Mockasin  flowers  ;  the  Indians  call  their  shoes 
so  which  they  much  resemble  ;  a  kind  of  Sena  which 
doubling  the  dose  they  say  has  the  same  Effects  as  that 
of  Alexandria,  this  i.e.  an  Insensible  sort  of  sensitive 
plant  we  have  (if  I  may  call  it  so  without  a  Bull) 
are  perfect  Legumes,  yet  make  not  Papilio  nareous 
flowers.  An  early  dwarf  sweet-smelling  Iris,  several 
sorts  of  rare  Capillaries,  Funguses  &c.  I  met  with  one 
last  Fall,  its  Gland  was  of  a  Red  colour,  with  the 
foramen  Urinale  open.  It  was  cover'd  over  with  a 
slimy  kind  of  substance  which  stunk  egregiously.  I 
never  smelt  anything  vegetable  or  animal  like  it  ; 
that  of  the  most  fetid  of  the  Tragorchides  comes 
not  near  it.  The  Thora  or  Skin  through  which  it 
thrusts  itself  is  of  a  whitish  colour  which  it  might  have 
appendent  tho'  suddain  Surprise  prevented  my  Curiosity 
to  examine.    But  afterwards  perceiving  in  it  no  apparent 


200  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

Fraction  I  concluded  that  I  had  taken  up  all  that  Nature 
gave  it.  If  you  would  have  it  cut  you  cannot  copy  it 
better  than  from  that  of  a  Dog,  however  I  have  sent  you 
natures  Autograph  :  when  I  gather'd  it  it  was  turgid  and 
full  of  that  fetid  seminal  matter,  tho'  now  it  be  flaccid 
and  lank  and  nothing  but  skin.  Besides  those  I  have 
mention'd  both  here  and  in  my  Catalogue  I  have  met 
with  a  great  number  of  Trees,  Shrubs  and  herbs  that  I 
know  not  what  to  make  of  for  want  of  Books  and  other 
helps  and  Assistances  pertinent  to  him  that  undertakes 
and  intends  to  go  through  with  such  a  Work.  Little 
discovery  can  be  made  of  the  Mineral  Kingdome  in 
this  Country,  because  we  seldome  break  the  Earth  any 
further  than  with  the  Plow  or  Hoe.  Coals  we  want  none, 
nor  do  any  search  for  Stone.  In  Our  parts  where  these 
mighty  Sons  of  Earth  voluntarily  shew  themselves,  all  I 
have  seen  are  of  so  harsh  a  Gritt,  and  loose  Contexture 
they  will  neither  cut  nor  polish  nor  so  much  as  burn  to 
Lime.  I  long  to  see  what  Naturals  of  this  and  other 
kinds  the  great  Ridge  of  Mountains  that  runs  across 
the  Continent  does  produce.  When  Times  are  settled 
and  a  Trade  open,  it  would  be  expedient  I  went  among 
the  Indians  to  take  a  View  of  their  towns,  Forts,  Manner 
of  Living,  Customes  &c.  And  also  to  inform  myself  of 
the  Names,  but  especially  the  Virtues  of  Plants,  which 
Nature  has  taught  them  to  a  Miracle.  They  have  a  very 
odde  but  Experience  the  best  Master  tells  us,  it  is  an 
exceeding  good  way  of  Sweating.  By  the  River  side 
they  dig  a  Hole  like  an  Oven  open  at  the  top,  but  to 
cover  with  a  Stone.  Every  town  has  one  of  these 
Sweating  Houses  in  it,  and  a  Doctor  paid  by  the  Publick 
to  attend  it  ;  when  they  would  sweat  (as  they  commonly 
do  when  they  are  weary)  the  Doctor  gets  4  or  5  pretty 
big  stones,  heats  them  red  hot  and  lays  them  in  the 


PAPERS  QUOTED  AT  RICHMOND  201 

middle  of  the  House.  This  done  they  get  in  stark  naked, 
6  or  8  of  them,  as  many  as  can  sit  round  and  the  mouth 
is  closed.  Then  the  doctor  to  raise  a  steam  casts  water 
on  the  stones,  and  the  sweat  beginns,  which  you  may 
imagine  is  very  violent.  He  now  and  then,  as  he  thinks 
fit,  casts  cold  water  on  them,  perhaps  to  keep  them  from 
fainting,  when  they  have  sweat  their  time  which  is 
about  \  of  an  hour,  he  rolls  away  the  stones  and  they 
get  out  and  plunge  into  the  River  which  closes  the  Pores, 
so  that  they  take  not  cold.  The  heat  being  driven  from 
all  parts  to  the  heart  makes  them  weak  and  faintish  for 
a  time,  but  they  presently  recover,  and  their  Joints  are 
limber  and  supple  as  if  they  n'ere  had  travell'd.  I  know 
a  gentleman  cur'd  of  a  Violent  Fever  by  this  way  of 
Sweating. 

"  This  is  all  I  have  yet  observed.  You  may  perhaps 
find  one  better  able,  you  cannot  I  am  sure  find  one  more 
willing  to  serve  you  and  his  country  than 

"Sir, 
11  Your  obliged  Humble  Servant 

"  John  Banister." 
Endorsed  "  To  Captain  Morrison. " 

Quoted  by  the  Bishop  at  Richmond,  October  4 
(see  Art.  XL). 
11  Treaty  of  peace  made  and  concluded  on  the  one  part  by  the 
HonbU  Alexander  Spotswood  her  majesty's  Lief  Gover- 
nour  and  Commander  in   chief  of   the  Colony  and 
Dominion  of  Virginia  for  and  on  behalf  of  the  said 
Colony  and  on  the  other  part  by  Ouracoorass  Turheer 
of  the  Nottoway  Indians  in  behalf  of  the  said  nation 
done  and  signed  at  Williamsburgh  27.  Feb.  1713. 
M  Whereas  the  Lands  laid  out  and  appropriated  for 
the  settlement  of  the  Nottoway  Indians  in  pursuance 


202 


THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 


of  the  Articles  of  Peace  made  at  Middle  Plantation  the 
29th  day  of  May,  1677,  being  now  encompassed  by  the 
latter  settlements  of  the  English  inhabitants,  are  thereby 
become  inconvenient  for  the  hunting  by  which  the  said 
Indians  subsist,  in  regard  that  being  obliged  to  pass 
through  the  Plantations  of  the  English  quarrels  do  often 
arise  to  the  interruption  of  good  correspondence  between 
Her  Majesty's  subjects  and  the  said  nation  of  Indians  ; 
whereupon  the  Turheer  of  the  said  Nottaways  having 
intimated  his  desire  to  change  his  present  settlement 
for  one  more  remote  from  the  English.  .  .  . 

1 '  The  Governour  of  Virginia  being  desirous  to  grant 
so  reasonable  a  request  ;  and  at  the  same  time  to  employ 
the  service  of  the  said  nation  of  Indians  .  .  .  for  the 
protection  of  Her  Majesty's  subjects  inhabiting  the 
Frontiers  of  this  Colony,  and  willing  also  to  improve  the 
favourable  disposition  of  the  said  Indians  towards 
embracing  the  Christian  faith,  by  which  means  the  glory 
of  God  may  be  promoted,  and  the  fidelity  of  the  said 
Indians  secured  by  the  stricter  Ties  of  Religion  ;  hath 
therefore  by  and  with  the  advice  of  Her  Majesty's 
Council  concluded  this  present  Treaty  as  follows  : 


u  The  said  nation  of  Indians  shall  from  henceforth 
continue  Tributaries  to  her  Majesty  of  Great  Britain 
and  her  successors  under  the  subjection  of  the  Govern- 
ment of  Virginia. 

"II. 

"The  said  Indians  do  consent  and  promise  that  as 
soon  as  a  Tract  of  Land  shall  be  allotted  for  their  habita- 
tion, and  a  School  Master  and  minister  established 
among  them,  all  their  children  and  also  the  children  of 


PAPERS  QUOTED  AT  RICHMOND  203 

any  other  nation  of  Indians  who  shall  incorporate  with 
them  shall  be  taught  the  English  language,  and  instructed 
in  the  principles  of  the  Christian  religion.  And  in  the 
meantime  shall  send  twelve  boys  to  be  educated  at  the 
Saponic  Town  whenever  a  schoolmaster  shall  be  estab- 
lished there. 

"III. 

"The  said  Indians  shall  be  faithful  and  justice  to 
be  done  according  to  the  Laws  of  the  said  Colony. 
Neither  shall  it  be  lawful  for  either  party  to  seek  redress, 
by  any  other  means. 

"IV. 

"  If  the  said  Indians  shall  at  any  time  discover  con- 
spiracy to  give  notice  to  the  Governor. 

"V. 

' '  There  shall  be  set  out  ...  a  tract  of  land  between 
the  Rivers  Appomattax  and  Roanoake,  equivalent  to 
six  miles  square,  .  .  .  and  a  sufficient  tract  of  hunting 
ground. 

"If  it  become  necessary  to  remove  the  said  Indians 
to  a  further  distance  a  tract  of  the  like  quantity 
of  land  shall  be  of  new  laid  out  and  assigned  for 
their  habitations,  and  a  sufficient  satisfaction  made 
for  such  improvements  as  they  shall  leave  behind 
them. 

"...  A  tract  not  exceeding  2.000  acres  for  the  better 
support  of  the  minister  and  school  master  to  be  estab- 
lished there,  and  of  the  officer  and  men  to  be  appointed 
for  the  guard  of  the  said  Indian  Fort  .  .  .  without  being 
subject  to  Alienation  Mortgage  or  Lease  ...  if  the  Indians 
shall  decrease  to  an  inconsiderable  number  .  .  .  [land] 


204  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

to  the  proportion  of  ioo  acres  for  each  person  with  the 
liberty  of  hunting  on  all  unpatented  lands  between  the 
said  Rivers  as  aforesaid  shall  be  granted. 

"  VI. 

"  For  the  better  defence  of  the  said  Indian  settlement, 
an  officer  and  twelve  men  to  reside  in  the  Fort  ...  to 
assist  them  against  any  strange  Indians  .  .  .  and  to  go 
out  with  them  in  their  hunting  as  there  shall  be  occasion. 

"  VII. 

11  During  the  continuance  of  the  officer  and  men  at  the 
Fort  .  .  .  none  of  the  Indians  to  depart  .  .  .  except  in 
company  with  some  of  the  English  residing  at  the 
Fort. 

"  VIII. 

1 '  A  Public  Mart  and  Fair  at  their  settlement  at  least 
six  times  in  a  year,  .  .  .  exchange  with  the  Indians  for 
their  skins,  furs  and  other  commoditys,  and  magistrates 
shall  be  appointed  to  see  the  trade  justly  managed. 

"IX. 

11  These  articles  of  peace  to  extend  to  all  other  Indians 
who  shall  hereafter  incorporate  with  the  said  Nottoways. 

"  If  any  infringements  of  this  treaty  .  .  .  due  reparation 
and  satisfaction  shall  be  given  them. 

"XI. 

"Art.  XI. — Whereas  the  Governour  of  Virginia  did 
some  years  ago  in  order  to  encourage  the  said  Indians 
to  send  some  of  their  children  to  be  educated  at  the 


OLIVER   CROMWELL. 
From  an  Oil  Painting  in  Fulham  Palace.     Painter  unknown. 


PAPERS  QUOTED  AT  RICHMOND  205 

College  of  William  and  Mary  remitt  the  Annual  Tribute 
of  Skins  which  were  payable  by  the  said  Indians  to  the 
Governour  for  the  time  being  and  it  being  stipulated 
by  the  first  article  of  the  present  Treaty  that  the  said 
Indians  shall  continue  tributaries  without  mentioning 
the  quality  and  proportion  thereof  to  be  paid  by  them  : 
the  said  Governour  being  still  desirous  to  encourage 
and  promote  the  conversion  of  the  said  Indians  and  by 
easing  them  in  their  said  tribute  to  encourage  them 
the  more  to  a  faithful  observation  of  this  present  Treaty 
doth  hereby  stipulate  and  agree  with  the  said  Indians 
that  the  said  nation  shall  only  pay  as  an  acknowledg- 
ment of  their  dependence  on  the  Crown  of  Great  Britain 
the  yearly  tribute  of  Three  Indian  arrows  to  be  de- 
livered by  the  chiefmenof  the  said  nation  to  the  Governour 
or  commander  in  chief  of  Virginia  for  the  time  being  yearly 
on  St.  George's  day  at  the  Palace  at  Williamsburgh. 
"  The  mark  of 

11  OORACOO   £  RASS, 

"  Traheer  of  the  Nottoway  s.n 

"July  12,  1700. 
"  Draft  of  a  Charter  of  Incorporation  for  Harvard  Colledge 
at  Cambridge  in  New  England  agreed  by  the  Council 
and  House  of  Representatives  of  His  Majesty's 
Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  to  be  humbly 
solicited  for  to  his  Majesty. 

"  Js.  Addington,  Scc'y. 

11  William  the  Third  by  the  grace  of  God  of 
England  etc., 

"  Greeting. — WTiereas  there  hath  been  for  many- 
years  in  the  town  of  Cambridge  ...  a  society  commonly 
known  by  the  name  of  Harvard  Colledge  where  many 
persons  of  known  worth  have  by  the  blessing  of  Almighty 


206  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

God  been  educated,  and  the  better  fitted  for  public 
Imployments  both  in  the  Church  and  in  the  Civil  State. 
"  And  whereas  the  Governour  &c.  have  supplicated 
our  Royal  Grace  and  favour  in  the  settlement  of  the 
aforesaid  Colledge  that  it  may  be  done  in  such  a  manner 
as  may  effectually  secure  the  same  to  be  a  nursery  for 
the  supplying  the  Churches  of  our  said  Province  with 
able  learned  ministers  agreeable  to  the  Chief  end  and 
intent  of  the  first  Founders  of  the  said  Colledge 

M  Shall  from  henceforth  be  a  Corporation,  consisting 
of  seventeen  persons. 

"  Increase  Mather  (ist  President), 

Samuel  Willard  (Vice-President), 

James  Allen, 

Michael  Wigglesworth, 

Samuel  Torrey, 

Nehemiah  Hubbard, 

Peter  Thacker, 

Samuel  Angier, 

John  Danforth, 

Cotton  Mather, 

Nehemiah  Walter, 

Henry  Gibbs, 

John  White, 

Jonathan  Pierpont, 

Benjamin  Wadsworth, 

(Masters  of  Art  and  all  of  them 
inhabitants  of  our  province,  etc.) 

11  The  housing  and  lands  of  said  Corporation,  in  the 
personal  occupation  of  the  President  and  Fellows 
residing  at  the  said  Colledge  shall  be  exempt  and  free 
from  all  rates  and  taxes.  Them  and  their  servants 
exempted  from  all  personal  Civil  offices,  Military  Exer- 
cises, Watchings  and  Wardings." 


PAPERS  QUOTED  AT  RICHMOND  207 

11  Virginia,  the  Upper 
"  Parish  of  the  Isle  of  Wight  County, 
"July  21,  1724. 

u  May  it  please  Your  Lordship, 

"  I  rejoiced  greatly  on  the  reading  of  your 
Lordship's  letter  and  queries,  for  the  apposite  Counsel, 
precious  Exhortation,  and  sound  direction  expressed 
therein,  and  for  the  comfortable  hope  of  some  future 
good  to  accrue  to  our  poor  infant  Church  promised 
thereby.  So  that  for  a  constant  memorial  of  these  good 
things,  I  have  retained  your  Lordship's  letter  annexed 
to  the  queries,  which  I  have  returned  according  to  Your 
desire. 

"  I  beg  your  Lordship's  pardon  for  my  not  being 
satisfy'd  to  return  the  answers,  only  so  far  as  the  inter  - 
lineary  spaces  of  the  queries  did  admit  :  and  I  hope  you 
will  pardon  the  fault,  haveing  understood  the  principle 
that  led  me  into  it,  viz.  That  your  Lordship  is  the 
Physician,  and  wee  are  the  Patient  (God  knows  very 
much  distemper 'd  with  inveterate  Diseases).  O,  That 
therfor  as  a  faithful  and  tender  Physician  will  deign  to 
hear  the  relation  of  his  patient  with  regard  to  the 
malignant  malady  he  is  afflicted  with  ;  so  your  Lordship 
will  vouchsafe  to  lend  an  ear  to  the  rehearsal  of  a  few 
things  respecting  the  crazy  state  of  our  Ecclesiastick 
Constitution.  I  have  therfor  noted  some  deficiences  of 
the  duty  of  Ministers,  with  some  Impediments  to  their 
office,  some  dispositions  of  the  people  and  defects  of 
duty  on  their  part  towards  their  Pastors,  which  I  have 
done  by  answering  more  fully  your  Lordship's  queries 
numbered  here  in  that  order  they  were  sent  unto  us. 

11  I.  Haveing  been  ordained  in  the  Bishop's  Chappel 
at  Fulham  Die  Lunae,  quarto  Sc  Die  mensis  April. 
a.d.   1709.  and  Die  Dominico,   quinto  sc.   Die  mensis 


jo8  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

Martii  a.d.  1709.  I  went  over  to  Virginia  as  a  Missionary 
in  1710. 

"  I  have  here  inserted  the  date  of  my  letters  of  orders, 
to  satisfie  your  Lordship  of  the  Canonicalness  of  my 
mission  :  because  some  years  ago  when  there  was  a 
Convention  of  the  Clergy,  in  which  the  ordination  of 
some  was  questioned,  and  examin'd,  I  was  absent  thro' 
unavoidable  impediments,  and  was  returned  absent  to 
the  Bishop  by  my  Commissary.  But  your  Lordship 
will  have  no  cause  to  doubt  of  it,  after  you  have  seen 
my  name  and  the  date  of  the  year,  answerable  to  what 
I  have  written,  on  the  Bishop's  register.  And  for 
farther  confirmation  therof,  I  was  recommended  to  the 
then  Lord  Bishop  of  London  by  one  William  Forbes 
Esquire  of  Badsley  near  Limminton  Hampshire,  a 
Gentleman  of  good  account  with,  and  familiar  acquaint- 
ance of  his  Lordship.  I  was  also  known  to  the  Reverend 
Dr.  Forbes  a  Canon,  and  possessed  of  a  living  near 
Guilford  in  Surrey. 

"  I  confess  'tis  necessary  for  Your  Lordship  to  inspect 
into  the  legality  of  our  mission,  for  I  have  heard  of  some 
that  have  presumed  to  intrude  into  our  Office  without 
any  mission,  and  others  that  have  been  received  as 
Ministers  of  the  Church  of  England,  whose  ordination 
they  never  had.  And  this  irregularity  our  Church 
here  is  liable  to,  because  often  missionaries  are  not  re- 
quired to  produce  their  letters  of  Orders,  whether  they 
have  come  from  England  or  some  other  foreign  planta- 
tions. 

"II.  I  never  had  any  Church  before  this  which  I  now 
possess,  but  since  I  came  first  to  this  Church,  I  did 
officiate  about  XX  months  at  a  Church  of  the  next 
County  viz.  Xansimond,  and  in  Xovember  last  was 
removed  hither  again,  the  reason  of  which  was,  Because, 


PAPERS  QUOTED  AT  RICHMOND  209 

the  bounds  of  this  Upper  Parish  of  the  Isle  of  Wight  are 
so  great,  my  health  was  much  impaired  by  being  ex- 
posed to  the  excess  of  the  weather  (here  very  hot  in  the 
summer  and  piercing  cold  in  the  winter,  and  always 
variable)  on  so  long  and  frequent  Journeys  :  so  that  I 
was  forced  to  apply  my  self  to  the  Governour,  to  put  me 
into  some  Parish  more  proportionable  to  my  health 
and  Strength,  who  ordered  me  to  move  into  the  Upper 
Parish  of  Xansimond.  But  after  some  time  the  Gentle- 
men of  the  Isle  of  Wight  being  destitute  of  a  minister 
and  not  likely  to  be  supply'd  on  the  terms  I  served 
them,  requested  me  to  return  to  them  again  promising 
to  reduce  their  Parish  unto  reasonable  bounds  ;  which 
I  did,  having  first  asked  my  Commissary's  advice  and 
consent. 

"  Now  notwithstanding  I  my  self  in  these  instances 
have  involuntarly  changed  my  Parish,  yet  I  must  caution 
Your  Lordship  in  this,  that  the  custom  here  of  ministers 
so  frequently  changing  their  Parishes  not  for  laudable 
or  necessary  ends,  is  very  offensive,  and  alwayes  inter- 
preted by  the  people  to  proceed  from  levity  or  avarice 
therefor  for  this  irregular  practice  the  dissenters,  and 
others  disaffected  to  religion,  do  vulgarly  apply  unto  us 
all  that  of  the  proph.  Is.  Ivi.  n. 

"  III.  I  have  been  duely  licensed  by  the  Bishop  of 
London  to  officiate  as  a  missionary  in  this  Government 
of  Virginia.  My  License  is  dated,  Sexto  die  mensis 
martij  a.d.  1709.  And  also  my  Certificate  from  the 
Bishop,  the  Sixth  day  of  March  1709. 

"  Here  is  another  Irregularity  many  have  been  and 
some  Lre  guilty  of  now  ;  for  ministers  comeing  from 
New  York,  Mary-land,  and  other  Plantations,  wherever 
they  find  a  vacant  Church,  make  their  application 
there,  and  commonly  find  reception  without  any  more 

*4 


210  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

to  do,   none  ever  questioning  either  their  mission  or 
License. 

"  IV.  I  have  never  been  inducted  into  my  liveing. 
Here  Your  Lordship  discovers  a  defect  on  the  other 
side  ;  for  as  some  of  the  ministry  are  of  too  vagrant  a 
temper  never  fixing  their  resolutions  on  the  discharge 
of  their  office  over  one  flock  ;  so  the  parishoners  are 
very  defective  being  either  averse  from,  or  very  re- 
gardless of  committing  themselves  solely  to  the  care 
of  one  Shepherd,  which  may  be  inferred  from  their 
neglect  or  dislike  of  Induction,  so  that  Induction  is 
very  little  practis'd  here.  Some  did  refuse  it,  and 
opposed  the  Induction  of  a  Minister,  tho'  a  man  of 
blameless  life  and  conversation,  as  some  of  his  strong 
opposers  owned  to  me.  And  Colonel  Spotswood  our 
late  Governour,  (a  gentleman  well  disposed  toward  the 
interest  and  defence  of  the  Clergy)  told  me,  that  he  had 
gained  many  enemies  to  himself,  by  his  endeavouring 
to  induct  that  person,  tho'  by  the  law  of  the  Colony 
he  was  impowered  to  do  it.  The  which  disposition 
of  the  people  here,  when  I  had  considered  and  examin'd 
the  reason  thereof,  I  found  this,  That  hereby  they 
wou'd  reserve  to  themselves  this  handle  of  restraint  on 
the  ministry,  Of  not  being  bound  to  a  Minister  (as  they 
express  it)  lest  he  should  afterwards  prove  disagreeable 
to  them,  in  which  case  they  might  the  more  easily  cast 
him  off  for  another  more  suitable  to  their  humour  ; 
or  lest  he  shou'd  become  burdensome  to  them  when  he 
grows  old  and  unable  to  serve  them.  According  to 
which  their  policy,  I  know  a  good  honest  man,  a  sound 
teacher,  and  observer  of  the  Discipline  and  Ceremonies 
of  the  Church  of  England  (so  far  as  it  can  be  done 
here)  who,  growing  infirm  as  he  ent'red  into  old  age, 
and  being  thence  render'd  incapable  to  officiate  in  very 


PAPERS  QUOTED  AT  RICHMOND  211 

remote  parts  of  his  Parish  extravagantly  large,  was  so 
much  clamoured  at  for  his  neglect  (as  they  esteemed  it) 
that  he  was  ready  to  quit  one  half  of  his  benefice,  to 
get  rid  of  their  threatenings  and  satisfy  their  complaints, 
had  not  Death  prevented  him.  On  which  followed  the 
correction  of  their  Ingratitude  (some  of  themselves 
owning  it  to  be  so,  for  their  bad  treatment  of  a  good 
man),  their  Church  lying  long  vacant  afterward,  and  at 
last  God  permitting  vicious  and  dissolute  preachers  to 
come  among  them,  whose  practices  and  conversation 
were  wholly  inconsistent  with  Christianity. 

"  V.  I  am  always  resident  in  the  Parish  to  which  I 
do  belong,  but  when  I  officiate  among  remote  inhabi- 
tants on  some  intermediate  day  of  the  week. 

M  That  Your  Lordship  may  know  what  is  meant  by 
remote  Inhabitants,  be  pleased  thus  to  take  it.  My 
parish  lyeth  on  the  South  Side  of  James  River,  ex- 
tending, as  some  others  do  also,  from  East  to  West  ; 
they  began  first  to  seat  and  inhabit  on  the  Eastern 
parts,  where  they  built  their  Churches  at  their  first 
Settling ;  and  proceeding  on,  as  they  encreased  in  their 
Situation  westerly,  but  neglecting  to  fix  any  bounds, 
they  have  now  seated  themselves  very  remote  from  their 
parish  Churches  ;  so  that  such  Inhabitants  can  neither 
be  profited  by  their  Church  or  Chappel,  they  being  too 
far  distant  even  from  this  last  named.  Among  those 
I  have  often  preached  both  in  mine  own  parish  one 
Sabbath  day  of  each  month  ;  and  in  other  vacant 
adjacent  parishes,  that'^are  under  the  same  ill  circum- 
stances of  Remoteness. 

"VI.  My  parish  entendeth  upwards  of  LX  miles  in 
length  in  breadth  about  XI,  the  number  of  families  is 
uncertaine,  but  so  far  as  may  be  gathered  from  the 
number  of  assessed  persons,  the  number  of  familys  may 

14 — 2 


212  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

seem  to  be  about  400.  0 !  this  excessive  length  of  my 
parish,  I  have  found  by  long  experience  to  be  so  in- 
commodious, that  I  could  never  perform  my  pastoral 
office  as  I  ought,  altho'  I  have  spared  neither  cost  nor 
labour  on  the  attempts  and  endeavours  therof.  But 
I  must  observe  to  Your  Lordship  that  this  dispropor- 
tionate length,  is  not  from  necessity  but  negligence  in 
some,  and  the  covetousness  of  others,  who  think  if  their 
parish  be  cut  shorter,  it  will  too  much  augment  the 
charges  of  maintaining  a  minister.  Yet  I  doubt  not, 
but  if  this  county  were  divided  into  three  parishes, 
there  being  now  but  two,  Your  Lordship  wou'd  Judge 
the  charges  to  be  very  tolerable  ;  for  even  in  this  case, 
the  minister's  Salary  wou'd  not  exceed  XXXII  pounds 
of  tobacco — i.e.  about  three  shillings  to  be  pay'd  by  each 
tythable  or  rated  person  every  year. 

"  The  inconvenience  and  prejudice  of  such  large 
bounded  parishes  are  very  great.  For  tho'  the  people 
are  very  ignorant  and  undisciplin'd,  the  Word  of  God 
can  be  preached  but  seldom  among  them,  the  use  of 
the  Sabbath  day  is  converted  by  them  into  some  diver- 
sion or  worldly  business.  They  cannot  be  catechis'd 
so  frequently  as  their  need  requires,  their  sick  cannot 
be  visited. 

"VII.  There  are  Infidel  slaves  (viz.)  Negroes,  which 
as  soon  as  they  are  capable,  are  taught  and  baptized 
by  the  care  of  some  Masters  but  too  much  neglected 
by  many.  We  have  also  in  this  Parish  a  town  (as  they 
call  it)  inhabited  by  Indians  tributary  to  this  Govern- 
ment ;  they  are  in  number  about  LXX  excluding 
females  and  children  ;  a  certain  number  of  whose  youth, 
is  educated  at  the  Colledge  by  the  charitable  beneficence 
of  the  good  and  Honourable  Rob.  Boyle  Esquire.  But 
all  means  used  for  their  conversion  is  like  to  prove 


PAPERS  QUOTED  AT  RICHMOND  213 

ineffectual  because  of  those  obstacles  which  seem  to 
impede  the  conversions  of  Infidels  wherever  Christianity 
is  professed,  i.e.  The  wicked  lives  of  Christians  as  'tis 
demonstrated  in  that  excellent  book  called  '  A  Demon- 
stration of  the  Messias,'  Part  II.,  pages  77  and  85. 

11  VIII.  In  our  Church  Divine  Service  is  performed 
twice  in  three  weeks,  and  at  one  Chappel,  distant  from 
the  Church  XXIII  miles,  once  in  three  weeks  ;  In  remote 
parts  of  the  parish  once  in  four  weeks  at  some  private 
house ;  besides  some  principal  Holy-days.  But  this 
is  to  be  understood  of  the  order  and  times  when  I  perform 
Divine  Service  my  self.  By  the  law  of  the  Colony  they 
have  also  a  Reader,  that  reads  the  service  and  a  Homily 
in  the  Church  or  Chappel  the  Minister  is  absent  from, 
when  he  officiates  at  another  place.  The  number  of 
hearers  is  sometimes  but  small. 

From  this  answer  Your  Lordship  will  observe  that 
Divine  Service  is  too  seldom  performed,  all  Holy  Days 
not  being  constantly  Observed  here,  which  happeneth 
unavoidably  in  these  extensive  parishes  ;  for  the  reason, 
That  so  much  time  and  travel  is  required  for  preaching 
among  them  on  Sabbath  days  at  Chappels  and  private 
houses,  as  aforesaid.  But  I  wish  the  defect  were  not 
observable  also  in  other  parishes  where  no  such  excuse 
can  be  pleaded  for  it.  Too  many  Holy  days  are  omitted 
in  the  Colony  without  celebration  of  Divine  Service. 
The  fifth  of  November  and  XXXth  of  January  are  little 
regarded.  But  with  respect  to  those  very  long  Parishes, 
I  hope  it  will  appear  to  your  Lordship  how  great  the 
necessity  is  of  their  being  divided  for  their  large  extent 
is  not  only  the  cause  of  the  omission  of  Holy  days  ; 
but  very  often  I  have  found  that  labour  to  be  fruitless 
which  I  have  employed  in  room  of  their  observation  : 
for  sometimes  after  I  have  travelled  fifty  miles  to  preach 


2i4  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

at  a  private  house,  the  weather  happening  to  prove 
bad,  on  the  day  of  our  meeting,  so  that  very  few  or  none 
have  met  ;  or  else  being  hinder'd  by  Rivers  and  swamps 
render'd  impassable  with  much  rain,  I  have  returned 
with  doing  of  nothing  to  their  benefit  or  mine  own 
satisfaction.  I  have  added  in  the  answer  the  number 
of  hearers  is  sometimes  but  small,  which  is  meant  not 
only  in  the  cases  of  the  just  now  mentioned  Impediments ; 
but  also  when  a  greater  number  might  reasonably  be 
expected  to  meet.  The  reasons  of  which  seem  to  be 
(i)  That  the  distance  of  the  way  may  hinder  many  at 
sometimes  who  cannot  be  prepared  to  come  X,  XII  or 
XV  miles,  tho'  they  might  and  would  if  they  had  but 
V  or  VI.  (2)  We  have  Sundry  Dissenters  as  Ana- 
baptists, and  Quakers,  and  also  others  that  care  little 
for  any  religion.  (3)  There  is  diffused  thro'  all  such  a 
disregard  and  negligence  of  publick  worship,  that  many 
think  it  not  a  thing  necessary  to  be  punctually  ob- 
served. 

"  IX.  In  our  Church  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  is  administered  thrice  a  year.  The  small  number 
of  communicants  is  usually  from  ten  to  fifteen  or  twentie. 
It  is  not  for  the  want  of  preaching  up  the  observance 
of  this  great  duty  that  so  few  observe  it.  I  did  formerly 
divide  my  long  parish  into  six  parts,  and  that  none 
might  be  ignorant  or  pretend  they  never  heard  of  it  ; 
I  preached  fully  on  the  nature,  use  and  necessity  of 
this  Ordinance,  but  what  should  harden  so  many  hearts 
against  it,  I  know  not  ;  except  it  be  chiefly  the  general 
decay  of  Christian  piety ;  and  loss  of  the  true  and  serious 
sense  of  religion  in  this  unhappy  age,  seemingly  aban- 
don'd  to  luxury,  pride,  covetousness,  corrupt  principles, 
vitious  conversation. 

"  X.  I  catechise  the  youth  of  my  parish  on  Sabbath 


PAPERS  QUOTED  AT  RICHMOND  215 

days  when  their  Parents  or  season  of  the  year  will 
permit  them  to  come  to  Church.  But  I  must  own  to 
Your  Lordship,  that  because  of  these  hindrances  and 
others  included  herein  this  office  is  not  done  as  it  ought 
to  be,  considering  that  it  is  a  material  and  fundamental 
one  ;  which  is  also  obstructed  very  much  by  the  too 
great  distance  of  inhabitants  from  their  Churches  and 
Chappel.  I  did  endeavour  once  to  supply  this  defect 
by  chatechising  and  expounding  some  of  the  Command- 
ments or  articles  of  the  Creed  in  private  houses  of  the 
parish  divided  as  befor  mention'd,  and  that  quarterly 
setting  apart  a  whole  week  for  that  purpose  ;  the  which 
method  tho'  it  was  approved  oft,  and  generally  em- 
braced by  the  people  at  first,  yet  I  had  scarce  continued 
this  course  for  the  space  of  three  years,  but  their  remiss- 
ness to  attend  grew  so  great,  that  I  was  discouraged 
my  self  from  bestowing  so  much  time  and  travel  therin. 
Yet  I  know  not  but  this  carelessness  of  people  in  a  matter 
of  so  great  importance  as  catechising  most  certainly  is, 
doth  very  much  proceed  from  their  never  haveing  been 
inured  to  this  most  necessary  discipline  ;  so  that  now 
they  hold  not  their  selves  oblidged  to  give  their  atten- 
dance thereto.  Thus  in  Nansimond  parish,  where  I 
did  officiate  lately,  it  form'd  a  new  and  strange  thing 
even  to  ancient  people,  when  I  called  their  youth  to  be 
catechised  at  Church  according  to  the  Canon  :  so  that  I 
fear  if  ever  this  excellent  manner  of  Instruction  was 
observed  at  all,  'tis  too  much  disused  in  some  places  of 
this  Colony. 

"XI.  As  to  our  disposition  and  provision  in  the 
Church  for  the  decent  and  orderly  performance  of  Divine 
Service,  they  are  both  imperfect  ;  our  Chappel  hath 
lyen  unfinished  for  some  years  bygone,  consisting  as 
yet  only  of  walls  and  roof ;  the  Surplice  is  wanting,  as 


216  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

also  in  most  other  Parishes.  Wine  is  not  duely  provided 
for  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  In  a  word  the 
LXXX.  LXXXI.  LXXXII.  and  LXXXV.  Canons 
ecclesiasticall  are  much  transgressed  in  some  Churches  ; 
which  I  suppose  happened  partly  from  sparingness,  tho' 
this  excuse  drawn  from  a  pretence  of  poverty,  should 
now  be  laid  aside,  when  parishes  are  grown  populous 
and  sufficiently  able  to  provide  such  things  ;  partly 
from  ignorance,  I  haveing  been  conversant  in  some 
parishes,  the  Rulers  whereof  had  never  so  much  as 
heard,  that  there  was  a  book  of  Canons  extent  in  the 
Church. 

"  XII.  My  living  (as  of  all  Ministers  in  the  Colony)  is 
16,000  pds.  tobacco,  valued  by  our  antientest  laws  at 
80  lb.  current  money,  i.e.  about  £65  ster.  The  tobacco 
is  raised  by  the  assessment  of  all  male  persons  of  the 
age  of  sixteen  and  upwards,  and  of  all  Negroe,  Molatto, 
and  Indian  women  of  the  same  age  not  being  free.  But 
the  value  of  liveings  is  very  unequal  because  of  the 
unequall  value  of  tobacco  in  different  places  of  the  Colony. 
On  the  North  side  of  James  River  in  many  parishes 
their  tobacco  is  sold  at  20  Shs  per  hundred,  so  that 
Minister's  Salaries  in  those  parishes  are  worth  160  pd. 
p.  ann.  and  sometimes  much  more  when  tobacco  sells 
at  the  highest  rate.  And  they  have  this  advantage 
that  their  Tobacco  seldom  goes  so  low  but  that  they  have 
a  competent  liveing  therby.  But  on  the  South  side 
of  James  River  the  value  of  tobacco  is  much  inferior; 
for  in  most  parishes  it  rarely  exceeds  10  Shs  a  hundred, 
and  very  often  doth  not  amount  to  above  one  half  of 
that  sum  ;  so  that  instead  of  8olb  we  have  but  40lb 
most  commonly ;  except  it  be  in  some  few  parishes. 
And  there  is  also  this  great  detriment  which  accrueth 
to  some  of  us  who  live  in  these  very  spacious  parishes, 


PAPERS  QUOTED  AT  RICHMOND  217 

That  the  collection  of  our  salaries  cannot  be  duely  made 
because  of  the  spaciousness  of  the  parishes  which  last  has 
been  such  an  effectual  hindrance  to  me  in  the  discharge 
of  mine  office,  that  I  have  never  been  able  to  do  it,  as 
I  would  have  done  ;  and  what  I  have  done,  has  been 
under  the  difficulties  of  poor  and  mean  worldly  circum- 
stances. I'm  sure  Your  Lordship  will  be  persuaded  of 
this  by  considering  only  (1)  when  trade  is  dead  our 
tobacco  is  sold  at  half  the  value  set  upon  it  by  Law. 
(2)  Most  things  pertaining  to  domestick  necessaries 
raiment  and  clothing  especially,  are  sold  at  double  and 
treble  the  rate  here  that  they  are  in  England.  (3)  The 
great  disadvantage  arising  from  the  bad  method  of 
collecting  and  defective  payment  of  my  Salary.  But 
concerning  this  last  Your  Lordship  shall  be  more  fully 
informed,  and  of  the  means  I  have  used  to  redress  it, 
together  with  other  matters  presented  by  me  to  our 
General  assembly,  after  you  have  read  what  I  have 
copy'd  out  therof ;  which  I  have  set  here  at  the  End  of 
this  ;  and  which  may  perhaps  give  Your  Lordship  some 
farther  insight  in  the  state  of  our  affairs  here. 

"XIII.  I  have  no  house  but  at  mine  own  cost  and 
charge,  the  glebe  not  being  worth  the  building  upon. 
The  hireing  of  workmen  being  very  chargeable  here  to 
other  things  relating  to  building,  this  hath  greatly 
augmented  the  difficulty  of  my  circumstances;  yet  for 
it  all  I  could  not  hitherto  supply  my  own  necessity  in 
this,  so  as  not  to  be  greatly  incommoded  with  regard 
to  my  calling.     So  that 

"  XIV.  I  have  never  been  able  to  build  or  repair  a 
Convenient  and  decent  house  at  my  own  expence. 
Some  parishes  have  good  glebes,  others  very  mean, 
others  none.  There  is  now  a  vacant  parish,  to  wit,  the 
Lower  of  Nansimond  County,  that  has  a  very  good  glebe. 


2i 8  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

11  XV.  I  have  but  one  Cure,  but  so  extensive,  that  I 
cannot  serve  it  as  it  ought  to  be.  Here  each  Minister 
hath  properly  but  one  parish,  except  a  very  few  who 
have  two  small  parishes  joined  together,  and  served  at 
one  parish  haveing  a  church  and  chappel.  But  it  often 
falleth  out  that  we  have  void  parishes,  which  are 
supply'd  by  Ministers  invited  thereto  by  the  parishoners, 
or  else  who  offer  themselves  to  visit  such  parishes  on 
some  day  of  the  week  they  find  most  convenient.  Where 
I  must  admonish  your  Lordship  that  such  proceeding  is 
not  alwayes  regulated  in  due  and  decent  manner  for 
some  undertake  to  serve  so  many  vacant  parishes,  that 
they  must  of  necessity  neglect  their  own.  I  have  also 
heard  lately  of  a  very  unseemly  and  offensive  conten- 
tion, at  a  certaine  Church  before  Sunday  Spectators, 
between  two  ministers,  striving  together  which  should 
be  imployed  to  supply  the  vacancy. 

"  XVI.  We  have  no  publick  school,  the  defects  of 
our  private  schools  Your  Lordship  will  gather  from  one 
of  the  propositions  presented  to  our  assembly.  I  have 
observed  that  some  honest  and  well  disposed  men 
might  be  beneficiall  in  this  office,  but  for  some  vagrant 
and  loose  persons  pretending  to  teach  at  a  lower  rate 
than  another  who  would  honestly  mind  his  buisness  can 
afford  to  do  so  as  subsist  by  it. 

"  XVII.  We  have  no  parochial  Library.  Our  private 
Library's  even  those  of  the  ministry  are  many  of  them 
very  mean.  Mine  own  is  such,  tho'  much  better  than 
sundry  of  my  Bretherens  that  I  have  seen.  The  wants 
of  my  family  could  not  hitherto  permit  me  to  purchase 
some  books,  which  I  woud  gladly  otherwise  have  done. 
I  have  had  the  peruseing  of  some  good  commentators, 
such  as  Bishop  Patrick,  but  have  none  of  mine  own 
to  consult  with  on  every  occasion.     I  have  greatly  wished 


A   CRAYON   SKETCH    OF   A   CHURCH    FOR    VIRGINIA 
DATED    1722,    UNSIGNED. 


PAPERS  QUOTED  AT  RICHMOND  219 

to  be  of  ability  to  purchase  the  Bibliotheca  Critico- 
Sacra  ;  and  a  compleat  Ecclesiasticall  history,  haveing 
none  but  Irynaeus's  collection  of  the  first  six  centuries, 
and  the  Bishop  of  Norwich's  book  of  Canons  articles 
etc.  Ecclesiasticall.  To  remedy  somewhat  the  want  of 
commentators  I  have  no  other  means  left  but  attending 
more  diligently  to  the  originall  texts  and  most  cele- 
brated versions,  with  which  I'm  furnished  from  the 
Polyglot  Bible.  And  even  this  prodigious  Work  (as 
Bishop  Burnet  stiles  it)  is  not  useless  in  this  country,  tho' 
lately  formed  out  of  a  wilderness  (which  one  would  there- 
fore think  might  have  continu'd  longer  in  its  primitive 
simplicity,  free  from  the  corruptions  of  abused  literature) 
where  yet,  we  have  some  shrewd  objectors  among  the 
Quakers  and  even  Deists  whose  mouths  (which  must 
be  stopp'd  from  this  Waltonian  Prodigy)  Robert 
Barclay's  learning  hath  filed  with  some  of  the  learned 
arguments  against  the  Bible  ;  while  he  tells  us  (Apol. 
pag.  81)  that  the  controversie  about  the  Hebrew  points, 
and  the  various  readings,  etc.,  do  not  a  little  derogate 
from  the  Holy  Scriptures.  And  truely  what  Barclay 
there  says  to  this  purpose,  must  needs  startle,  if  not 
cause  to  stumble  a  considerate  reader,  if  unacquainted 
with  the  hebrew  text  and  uncapable  of  examining 
these  various  lections  ;  of  which  his  literall  sense  makes 
exceeding  high  mountains  highly  derogatory  to  our 
holy  Oracles  ;  but  these  mountains  viewed  with  the 
Noble  Perspectives  of  Bishop  Walton  and  D.  Castellus, 
of  Glorius  Memory,  do  soon  dwindle  into  mole-hills, 
especially  in  the  Judgment  of  a  Pious  man  an  unpre- 
judiced reader. 

"  Thus  I  have  adventured  to  represent  to  Your  Lord- 
ship some  defects  and  Irregularities  with  regard  to  the 
state  and  condition  of  our  Church  here  ;  being  such 


220  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

things  as  have  been,  may  be,  and  really  are  amiss 
among  us.  I  would  have  added  more  (from  an  earnest 
desire  to  see  a  reformation  of  abuses  and  enormities 
begun  and  promoted  in  the  Church)  but  being  an  utter 
Stranger  to  Your  Lordship,  I  shall  forbear,  referring 
Your  Lordship  to  Colonel  Spotswood  our  late  Governour 
(a  gentleman  of  known  credit  and  good  esteem  and  well 
affected  to  the  Church  of  England,  and  well  acquainted 
with  the  state  and  circumstances  therof  in  this  Colony ; 
who  still  resides  in  this  Country  at  his  own  house  of 
Germanna  Town  in  Spotsylvany  County)  for  a  more 
full  and  accurate  relation  of  these  things  which  may  be 
serviceable  to  Your  Lordship  in  the  Enterprize  and 
atchievement  of  so  Good,  Great,  and  necessary  a  Work  ; 
a  work  which  hath  not  only  the  concurrence  of  my 
hearty  desires  and  prayers  to  God  for  its  process  but  for 
the  promotion  whereof,  I  will  not,  must  not  any  longer 
conceal  (tho*  hitherto  I  have  conceal'd  it  as  men  do  hide 
a  shameful  disease)  the  necessity  there  is  for  that, 
which  is  most  essential  and  absolutely  necessary,  to  wit, 
the  recuperation  of  the  unspeakable  loss,  and  reparation 
of  the  Enormous  Infringement  of  the  LXXV.  Canon 
Ecclesiasticall  the  which  I  doubt  not,  will  be  no  less 
Grievous  to  Your  Lordship  to  hear,  than  it  is  to  me  to 
have  occasion  of  writeing  such  things  but  besides  this 
hint  (that  Your  Lordship  may  have  a  more  certain  ground 
for  reproof,  correction,  or  application  of  a  speedy  remedy ; 
for  which  intents  also  I  have  sent  a  letter  wrote  by  Com- 
missary Blair  to  one  of  the  clergy)  I  shall  here  insert 
a  passage  of  a  letter  that  was  written  to  our  present 
Governour,  on  this  doleful  Theme,  viz.  : 

"  '  And  these  Grievances  are  the  most  unworthy  and 
Scandalous  Carriage  of  some  ministers  of  the  Church 
who  by  their  Corrupt  Conversation  and  vitious  practice 


PAPERS  QUOTED  AT  RICHMOND  221 

do  demolish  more  in  one  year,  than  even  a  Wisemaster 
builder  cou'd  Reedifie  in  a  much  longer  space  of  time — 
whose  Behaviour  is  such,  that  it  greatly  tends  to  confirm 
Atheists  in  their  Infidelity  and  contempt  of  Religion, 
yea  to  make  Proselytes  thereto,  or  to  any  party  besides 
the  Church  of  England.  So  that  on  occasion  taken 
from  those  mens  offensive  carnage,  the  Doctrine  oi 
our  Church,  the  Discipline,  and  ministry  thereof,  have 
been  lately  reproached,  slandered,  and  Impugned  by 
a  Quaker  teacher,  and  that  openly  in  the  face  of  the 
County  Court  of  Nansimond.  And  such  are  the  natural 
fruits  that  do  arise  from  the  wicked  lives  of  Spiritual 
Guides  in  any  such  Church  whatever  for  when  there  is 
such  obvious  Contradiction  between  the  Doctrine  and 
Practise  of  these  men  ;  even  Miracles  could  not  maintain 
the  credit  of  that  Church,  where  such  loud  and  Profane 
Ministers  are  Tolerated  or  Connived  at/ 

"  I  shall  also  add,  that  such  are  the  Defects  of  Duty, 
Love,  Esteem,  and  union  mutually  between  Ministers 
and  people  that  it  can  rather  be  said  truely,  That  they 
have  Preachers  than  Pastours  in  many  places  of  this 
Colony.  The  which  being  our  Inveterate  Disease,  con- 
tracted thro'  the  want  of  necessary  discipline  and  due 
Inspection,  'tis  supposed  by  some  (who  grieve  at  this 
our  misfortune)  that  hardly  any  thing  seems  sufficient 
to  extirpate  it,  but  Your  Lordship's  appointing  Two 
faithful,  Industrious,  and  Prudent  Visitors  over  us  (if 
it  might  possibly  be)  One  on  the  North  side,  and  another 
on  the  South  side  (where  we  have  seven  large  counties) 
of  James  River  ;  there  being  on  both  sides  bounds  large 
enough  for  one  man  to  exercise  his  diligence  in  that 
manner  and  measure  the  work  will  require.  I  have 
mentioned  a  vacant  Parish  with  an  extraordinary 
Glebe,  if  Your  Lordship  has  the  happiness  to  find  such 


222  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

a  one  for  us.  But  besides  this,  I  think,  so  unaccustomed 
are  the  people  of  some  parishes  to  Discipline  and  good 
Order  ;  that  it  will  require  Line  upon  Line,  Precept 
upon  Precept  (Prosecuted  by  a  watchful  visitor)  to  inure 
them  thereto.  And  the  longer  the  application  of  some 
good  Remedy  is  delayed,  the  more  difficult  will  the  cure 
be  found  to  be  ;  because  in  the  must  remote  and  un- 
disciplined parts  of  these  Parishes,  there  are  still  sur- 
viving some  sober  antient  persons,  who  were  brought  up 
in  the  Doctrine  and  Discipline  of  the  Church  of  England, 
who  adhere  thereto,  and  seem  freely  to  embrace  it  ; 
who  I  have  observed  to  have  great  Influence,  by  their 
Counsell,  and  example,  on  the  young  and  uncultivated 
generation,  to  draw  them  into  a  good  esteem  of  the 
Doctrine  and  service  of  the  Church  ;  the  which  recent 
brood,  I  fear,  without  this  help,  and  by  a  longer  absence 
of  Good  Discipline,  will  soon  decline  unto  any  party  of 
Dissenters  incident,  by  Good  Words  and  Fair  Speeches, 
to  pervert  and  deceive  their  simple  hearts  and  Ignorant 
minds.  In  Nansimond.  a  large  populous  and  wealthy 
County,  the  Quakers  do  sensibly  encrease  not  only  in 
offspring,  but  also,  Proselytes  ;  and  so  many  are  the 
offended  persons  there  high  and  low,  at  the  Ministry  of 
the  Church,  that  I  think,  there  wants  but  little  more, 
than  a  learned,  talkative,  and  subtile  Quaker  Preacher 
to  persuade  a  great  number  of  them  to  Quakerism. 

"  But  for  the  prevention  wherof  and  speedy  depul- 
sion  of  all  other  evils,  that  do  or  may  annoy  or  oppugn 
the  most  holy  Religion  of  our  Blessed  Saviour,  or  (which 
is  the  same  in  other  words)  may  tend  or  serve  to  dis- 
parage or  defame  the  Doctrine  of  the  Church  of  England, 
or  prostitute  her  Worship  and  Discipline  to  the  Oppro- 
brious or  Malignant,  God  Almighty,  by  whose  Provi- 
dence You  are  set  over  us,  who  hath  Inspired  Your 


PAPERS  QUOTED  AT  RICHMOND  223 

Lordship  with  this  Grace  to  begin  So  Good  a  work 
amongst  us,  Long  Preserve  Your  Lordship  in  Health 
and  Life,  with  authority  over  us,  and  with  all  things 
requisite  for  the  good  progress  and  desirable  Completion 
Therof.  Which  is  the  earnest  prayer  of 
11  May  it  please  Your  Lordship, 

"  Your  most  Obedient 
"and 
11  Most  Humble  Servant, 

"  Alexr  Forbes." 


11  To  His  Most  Excellent  Majesty  George  by  the 
Grace  of  God  of  Great  Britain,  France  and 
Ireland.  King.  Defender  of  the  Faith,  etc. 

"  The  most  Humble  Representation  of  the  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts. 

11  May  it  please  Your  Majty, 

"  The  said  Society  with  greatest  Humility  crave 
leave  to  Represent  to  Your  Majesty  that  since  the  time 
of  their  Incorporation  which  was  in  the  reign  of  His  late 
Majesty  King  William  the  Third,  They  have  used 
their  best  Endeavour  to  answer  the  End  of  their  Institu- 
tion by  sending  over  at  their  very  great  expense  and  to 
the  utmost  of  their  Ability  Ministers  for  the  more 
regular  administration  of  God's  Holy  Word  and  Sacra- 
ments, together  with  Schoolmasters  Pious  and  usefull 
Books  to  and  amongst  Your  Majesty's  Subjects  in  many 
Your  Majesty's  Plantations  and  Colonies  in  America 
for  their  Instruction  and  Improvement  in  Sound  Religion 
which  as  they  humbly  hope  hath  redownded  to  the 
Advancement  of  God's  Glory  and  the  good  of  Your 
Subjects  in  those  Parts.     In  Prosecution  whereof  the 


224  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

said  Society  were  greatly  encouraged  and  assisted  by 
Your  Majesty's  Royal  Predecessor  Queen  anne.  To 
whom  among  other  things  They  then  Represented  as 
they  now  do  must  humbly  to  Your  Majesty  the  earnest 
desires  and  repeated  applications  not  only  of  the  Mission- 
aries but  of  diverse  other  considerable  Persons  in  those 
Parts  in  Communion  with  our  Church  to  have  Bishops 
settled  in  Your  American  Plantations  as  very  useful 
and  necessary  for  establishing  the  Gospel  there  for  the 
due  Exercise  of  Ecclesiastical  discipline  for  ordaining 
Men  well  qualified  and  willing  to  upon  them  Episcopal 
Ordination  for  confirming  Persons  baptized  and  Pro- 
moting of  Piety,  Duty,  Peace,  and  Unity  as  well  among 
the  Clergy  as  Laity.  To  which  Request  she  was  gra- 
ciously pleased  to  make  a  most  favourable  answer.  But 
it  pleased  God  the  same  could  not  be  perfected  by  Her 
Late  Majesty  as  the  Society  humbly  hope  it  will  be  under 
Your  Majesty's  most  auspicious  Reign. 

"  Therefore  the  said  Society  with  all  Submission 
lay  it  before  Your  Majesty  as  their  Opinion  after  the 
most  mature  deliberation,  That  it  is  highly  Expedient 
four  Bishops  be  sent  thither  as  soon  as  conveniently 
may  be  to  forward  the  Great  Work  of  Converting 
Infidels  to  the  saving  Faith  of  our  Blessed  Redeemer, 
and  for  the  Regulating  such  Christians  in  their  Faith 
and  Practice  as  are  already  converted  thereunto.  That 
is  to  say  Two  for  the  care  and  Superintending  of  the 
Islands,  and  as  many  for  the  Continent  with  the  Ap- 
pointments of  fifteen  hundred  Pounds  Sterling  p. 
Annum  for  each  of  the  Former  and  one  Thousand  Pounds 
p.  Annum  for  each  of  the  latter,  as  the  nature  of  their 
Diocesses  seem  to  require,  in  case  the  Sees  of  the  former 
be  settled  as  is  humbly  proposed  by  the  said  Society, 
The  One  of  them  at  Barbados  for  itself  and  the  Leeward 


PAPERS  QUOTED  AT  RICHMOND  225 

Islands,  The  other  at  Jamaica  for  itself  with  the  Bahama 
and  Bermuda  Islands.  Those  for  the  Continent  the 
one  of  them  at  Burlington  in  New  Jersey  where  the 
Society  has  been  at  Six  Hundred  Pounds  charge  and 
upwards  to  purchase  a  convenient  House  and  Land  for 
his  Residence  for  a  district  extending  from  the  East 
side  of  Delaware  River  to  the  utmost  bounds  of  Your 
Majesty's  Dominion  East  Ward  including  Newfound- 
land, The  other  at  Williamsberg  in  Virginia  for  a  District 
Extending  from  the  West  side  of  Delaware  River  to 
the  utmost  bounds  of  Your  Majesty's  Dominions  West- 
ward. 

"The  said  Society  humbly  beg  leave  further  to 
represent  That  the  appointments  for  the  Bishops  of 
the  Islands  may  be  raised  from  the  Best  rectory  in  the 
Capital  Seat  of  each  Bishop  from  Ordinary  Jurisdiction, 
and  from  the  Tenth  part  of  all  future  Grants  and  Escheats 
to  the  Crown  if  Your  Majesty  shall  so  please,  with  such 
local  Revenues  as  shall  be  thought  fit  to  be  made  by  the 
Respective  Assemblys  ;  the  Bishop  of  Barbados  may 
have  towards  compleating  the  said  sum  of  £1,500  p. 
annum  the  Presidentship  of  General  Codrington's 
College  to  be  erected  within  the  Island  by  the  Society 
therewith  intrusted  under  Your  Majesty's  Royal 
Lycence,  and  the  Bishop  of  Jamaica  may  have  a  Like 
provision  out  of  the  Church  Lands  of  St.  Christopher's 
formerly  belonging  to  the  Jesuits  and  Carmelites  and 
other  French  Popish  Clergy  if  Your  Majesty  shall  be  so 
pleased  to  grant  them  to  the  use  of  the  said  Society 
for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  for 
the  purposes  above  mentioned.  And  the  appointments 
for  the  Bishops  of  the  Continent  besides  what  is  ex- 
pected from  St.  Christophers  may  unless  other  proper 
means  be  found  out  for  their  Maintenance  and  support 

15 


226  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

by  Your  Majesty's  Great  Wisdom  with  that  of  Your 

Councill  and  High  Court  of  Parliament  be  made  up 

out  of  the  Ordinary  Jurisdiction  of  their  Respective 

Dioceses,  some  Lands  which  may  be  purchased  in  those 

Dominions  at  easy  Rates,  others  which  may  be  granted 

by  the  Favour  of  Your  Majesty's  Donation  with  a  Tenth 

part  clear  out  of  all  Future  grants  and  Escheats,  if 

Your  Majesty  shall  be  so  pleased,  and  such  Proportion 

of  the  Local  Revenues  as  shall  be  sufficient  to  make 

up  the  Sums  proposed ;  or  in  Lieu  of  such  appointment 

which  shall  not  be  judged  practicable ;  such  Bishoprick 

on  the  Continent  as  shall  want  a  Compleat  Maintenance 

may  have  annext  to  it  either  a  Prebend  in  Your  Majesty's 

gift,  the  Mastership  of  the  Savoy  or  that  of  St.  Catherine's, 

and  as  to  the  Bishop  proposed  to  be  at  Williamsberg 

the   Presidentship   of   the   Royal   College   there   called 

\Ylm  and  Mary  may  be  appointed  to  make  up  his  Revenue 

if  Your  Majesty  shall  think  it. 

M  And   the   Society   as   in   Duty   bound    shall    ever 
Pray,  etc." 

"  To  the  Most  Serene  and  Most  Mighty  Prince  George, 
King  of  Great  Britain,  France,  and  Ireland,  and 
Lord  of  British  America,  the  humble  request  of 
Charles  Augustus  Ninagrel,  Sachem  of  the  Nara- 
gansett  Indians. 

"  Most  Serene  Prinxe, 

"  Though  I  have  the  honour  to  derive  my  descent 
from  princes  absolute  and  independent,  yet,  when  the 
English  settled  in  this  Western  World,  my  ancestors  not 
only  submitted  to  be  governed  by  their  laws,  but  at  all 
times  assisted  the  English  against  those  tribes  who  at 
any  time,  either  by  themselves,  or  in  conjunction  with 


PAPERS  QUOTED  AT  RICHMOND  227 

the  French  of  Canada,  have  committed  hostilities  upon 
them,  and  have  ever  since  confessed  an  entire  submis- 
sion to  your  Empire,  as  I  and  all  I  have  with  the  most 
profound  submission  now  do. 

"  And  I  have  observed  in  the  lives  of  the  English  a 
more  regular  practice  than  can  ever  (as  I  am  now 
induced  to  believe)  arise  from  the  principles  of  mere 
morality,  attribute  it  to  the  influence  of  the  religion 
your  happy  subjects  do  profess. 

"  Being,  therefore,  of  this  opinion,  and  hoping  to  be 
refined  by  that  excellent  religion  proclaimed  to  the  world 
by  the  disciples  of  Jesus,  and  to  bring  my  people  to  be 
governed  by  its  holy  rules,  I  am  very  desirous  to  be 
instructed  and  that  my  people  may  be  informed  in  the 
principles  of  that  religion  your  Most  Serene  Majesty  and 
happy  people  profess. 

11  In  order  to  obtain  this  end  I  propose  to  make  a 
settlement  of  a  certain  quantity  of  land  for  a  perpetual 
glebe  in  my  territory  of  Misquammacuik  upon  a  minister 
well  affected  to  your  Majesty's  person  and  government, 
who  will  take  pains  to  understand  our  language  so  as  to 
instruct  us  in  the  Christian  religion,  and  would  therefore 
humbly  entreat  your  most  sacred  Majesty  that  some 
pious  and  discreet  clergyman,  ordained  according  to  the 
manner  of  the  Church  of  England,  might  by  your  Majesty 
be  ordered  to  come  and  reside  as  a  missionary  among  us. 

"  And  forasmuch  as  I  can  only  give  a  tract  of  wild 
and  uncultivated  land  for  the  encouragement  of  such  a 
person  to  settle  among  us,  I  therefore  most  humbly 
beseech  your  Majesty  to  allow  him  a  salary  sufficient 
to  support  the  character  of  such  a  missionary  from  your 
Majesty. 

11  And  perhaps  there  will  not  be  a  more  shining 
instance  of  compassion  and  well-bestowed  charity   in 

15—2 


228  THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  COLONIES 

your  glorious  reign  than  in  being  the  instrument  of 
saving  (as  Europeans  call)  a  savage  nation  from  (what 
they  say  it)  eternal  ruin. 

"  This  is  humbly  requested  of  your  most  serene  and 
most  potent  Majesty's  entirely  devoted  and  most 
obedient  and  humble  servant. 


"  The  mark  of 
Charles  Augustus  Ninagrell, 

Misquammacuick,    alias    Westerly,    in    your   Majesty's 
colony   of   Rhodeesland   and  province  of    Virginia    of 
America,  July  13,  1727. 
"  Signed  in  the  presence  of 

"  James  McSparran,  Clerk. 
William  Gibbs. 
John  Hall,  Minister." 


Elliot  Stock,  62,   Paternoster  Rozu,  London^  E.C. 


